Hashira of the stars: Origin to end. A fanfiction of Demon slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. BY Kade (last name here)

disclaimer: i do not own demon slayer or its characters, nor the story ahead, this is loosely based and follows the storyline of demon slayer, all credit for characters goes to Koyoharu Gotouge, all original characters/OCs belong to me though^^ IF REPOSTED CREDIT ME OR I WILL STEAL YOUR KNEES YOU CLODS *peridots away~~~* ANYWAY STAY FLAMBOYANT READERS! I TAKE REQUESTS AND SUCH HERE (leave them in the comments! at the end of each chapter i will add a taisho era secret :3 ALSO THIS IS SET IN THE 1900'S SO DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW "oH mAh GaHhHh WhYs ThErE nO cArSsSs" BC THERE ISNT SUPPOSED TO BE. SUSAN. by the way the oc Taeko is more like a reader insert, having her pov's more in first person, so sorry for confusion^^ ... ENJOY - - - - - - - - ,',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',HASHIRA',',',','OF,',',',',',',THE,',',',',',STARS',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',' character description; Name: Taeko Hoshimiwa. current age in beginning: 9 years old. gender: Female she/her. Appearance: (loosely based off of Satoru Gojo ik sue me idc) she's albino! yk white hair, white eyelashes that jazz, and she has kinda like ehh blueish orange eyes that i based off of opals, wearing whatever clothes u think suits her Chapter one: "There aren't wizards on the mountain?!" -({[Taeko's POV!]})- You and your brother lived alone, Hiroshi was much older than you, you forget by how much, but he was always so mature and caring for you. Of course along with his flaws, but he took care of you, and made sure you were kept safe. Especially ever since your parents had passed away. Hiroshi was special to you, as you were to him, you cared for him, he was bright, and warm, and welcoming... he was like the sun. his bright orange to amber toned eyes said it all, all of the sorrow, all of the pain, yet all of the love and care he felt, and the excitement he held with each day, each line of worry that painted his face, each smile sculpting dimples into his cheeks, Hiroshi was truly your sun, your everything. You hear a familiar voice, and a sense of warmth, a bright feeling... and you open your eyes to the same warm sight everyday. "Good morning Taeko-Chan! we have a big day ahead of us today, don't we?" Hiroshi said with a warm smile, the smile that made you feel complete in the morning, and you nodded, remembering that you and Hiroshi were meant to travel away from the country house you had shared since you were born. "Oh, right! i nearly forgot, didn't I?..." you said, still with a raspy voice from sleep. "Onii-san, Where are we going again?" you asked, you were always such a forgetful girl, and Hiroshi always found that endearing about you. He chuckled, a sound that made your day brighter by just hearing it. "Taeko-Chan! did you really forget already? such a silly girl, we're going to the cottage grandpa left us, up near the wisteria mountain!" he said, in his usual manor of speech, always addressing you as "Taeko-Chan" and calling you words like silly, cute, other things that made you feel small, but you didn't mind feeling small with Hiroshi, because he always stood tall for you, and you know well that he would give his own life for yours, which as much as you wish to deny it, he would. And you would do the same, but you know he'd never let you, he was always like that. "Wisteria mountain? what kind of name is that Onii-san?" He paused, putting a finger on his chin in thought. "Hm....." he then held a finger up, as he had thought of something, probably a half baked story, he was good at those. "Maybe its magical Taeko-Chan! maybe there's a wizard!" he exclaims, you doubt a wizard would live on a mountain!. Wizards definitely live in schools. "Onii-san... I don't think there'd be a wizard there...." you furrow your brows in confusion. "Haha! you're right! there might just be a wizard right behind you though!" he says, you turn to look. He smacks you with your pillow. "Onii-san! no fair!" you giggle, grabbing your pillow back, smacking Hiroshi multiple times with it, leaving him collapsed over your futon laughing as you do "Taeko Chan!" he laughs "Alright, alright! I'm sorry hahaha-" you plop down next to him and hug him, as Hiroshi hugs you back, he smiles warmly. "You really are such a silly girl, aren't you Taeko-Chan?..." and you fell back asleep, holding onto your dear older brother, Hiroshi. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carrying what little you two own, and your brother carrying your father's sword, one of the little things he had left you two with, you walk on, trekking the path that lead to the mountain in the distance, it would take a few days on foot, as that would be the only way to travel (there were no cars here after all, in the countryside that is, only in Tokyo and expansive cities of the sort had the money and resources to do so, with railroads, and such.) "Onii-san, are we there yet?..." you groan, carrying the boxes of wrapped food under one arm, and your bedroll in the other, and your clothes wrapped in a sheet tied upon your back, your brother having around the same luggage, but with your fathers sword hilted on his waist, and a few precious items, which he insisted on carrying, due to them being 'heavy' or 'too big for you' because he was worried it would slow you down. But in reality, he was worried you would get hurt, but didn't want to say that out loud, because he knew how you felt about being worried about, even at your small age you wanted to look strong and prove you were helpful. "hm, not yet Taeko-Chan, it will still be a while before we do, but i am glad you're eager to get there! i heard grandfather built the cottage in the wisteria by Mount Fujikasane to ward off ghosts!" he says cheerfully, and you look somewhat betrayed in a feigned sense. "I thought it was called wisteria mountain! you liar! Onii-san!" you whined, Hiroshi laughed, "I guess i did, didn't i?" "There's a wizard on the mountain though, right Onii-san?" "Oh uhm... no that was also a lie" "Onii-san!" Hiroshi laughed again, you had forgotten all about the wizard and the mountain name by then, you didn't care, you were just with Him... {end of chapter 1} NOW FOR A TAISHO ERA SECRET! when Hiroshi was young he would always try and help with even the smallest things, and at some point his mother said he was due for a haircut, so he had decided to do that himself, and had accidentally gone bald! AND THIS HAS BEEN ANOTHER TAISHO ERA SECRET! _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Chapter two: Mr. Sparkles?!? ({[Hiroshi's POV}]) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After travelling for a while, it was near sunset, and Taeko had gotten tired, so Hiroshi had to carry her, he didn't mind though, as she fell asleep easily, and the luggage he carried, plus hers, and the heavy small girl in his arms, yet he managed, and it was getting dark... and no sane person travels in the dark here. He stopped at an inn, where a small elderly woman greeted him, and took their luggage to put away. "My, there has been quite a few guests headed this way I see, quite a lot" the elderly woman said in her kind manor, and just then a white haired boy in scars burst from a room, along with a boy with black hair, a bandage covered mouth, and a white snake upon his shoulders. The angry white haired boy looked Hiroshi's way, noticing him. "EH?!? WHO THE- WHO ARE YOU?!?" he spat, as Hiroshi merely smiled warmly. "oh! hello there, my name is Hiroshi Hoshimiwa! and this is my Taeko-Chan! and who might you both be?" Hiroshi added, earning a scowl from the white haired man, and a nod from the black haired man with the snake. "WHY DO YOU WANNA KNOW? DON'T YA KNOW WE'RE DEMON SLA-" the white haired boy barks before being whacked beside the head by the black haired boy "Sanemi. do you really wish to expose us to this kid? he looks like a civilian, do not tell him." the black haired boy boldly hisses at the white haired boy, apparently named Sanemi, earning Sanemi a harsh glare from the black haired boy, sending shivers down Hiroshi's spine. Sanemi turns to Hiroshi and the sleeping Taeko, and with a groan, states his name and his friends name. "The names' Sanemi Shinazugawa. Cross me and regret it. And this is Obanai Iguro, offend either of us and we'll remove your head from your shoulders kid." Hiroshi finds his eye twitching at that comment, Obanai notices it and narrows his eyes. "Well, I will not allow you to separate me from my Taeko-Chan, because she is far to important to me to lose! and I may not be a demon slayer but I will still fight to keep her, and myself safe." Hiroshi says, still with his warm stare and cheerful smile, making Sanemi jerk his head in Obanai's direction and back at Hiroshi. "How the- How did he know?" by the time Sanemi looks back at Hiroshi though, he is gone, having left to his room to put his sister to bed. Leaving the two demon slayers dumbfounded. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afterwards Hiroshi had put Taeko to bed he had stepped back out to silently confront the two boys that had, seemingly because of the white haired boy, picked a fight with him, bringing his fathers sword just in case. But not to his luck it seems, as Hiroshi walked around the Inn without seeing either boy, so he steps outside, to swing his fathers sword around, might as well, cant get rusty, and cant train with Taeko-Chan around, she wouldn't understand, And he didn't want to put her through anything she was not ready for. Using what little time Hiroshi had during the night, he trained practicing his strikes and impact, and technique. "Star breathing. First form: Celestial slash!" And Hiroshi strikes a tree and hears feigned applause behind him. "well well well, if it isn't the kid with the attitude problem! and you got some sparkly technique too! well, might as well call you Mr. Sparkles! HA! am I right Obanai?" the white haired boy- no Sanemi, says to Obanai from behind Hiroshi, Obanai only stares, with those seemingly souless cold eyes, and if looks could kill, Hiroshi would be dead right now, but he merely turns with his same warm smile, its quite hard to tell what is underneath. "Ah, well if it isn't the two demon slayers threatening to take my life and leave my sister helpless! what brings me such pleasure to be meeting you both again?" Obanai looks at Sanemi, and back at Hiroshi. "Well, speaking of which, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 exactly did you know that we were demon slayers, not many people are aware of our existence you know." Obanai asks, skeptical of Hiroshi, as Hiroshi merely smiles warmly. "I just do, after all, I am holding a nichirin sword, aren't I?" Hiroshi says. "And why exactly do you have one to begin with?!" Sanemi spat, and Hiroshi merely looked back at him. "Well, I'm afraid that is for me to know, not you, but, if you truly wish to... My father was a demon slayer. But I cannot let my sister know, she would get into danger that I do not want her to be exposed to." and Obanai paused for a moment, in thought. "Well, 'Sparkles', if you actually are being truthful, then how come neither of us have even heard of such breathing style? how would you explain that?" he asked, clearly skeptical, and curious. "Well, truth be told, my father quit being a demon slayer shortly after my sisters birth, but he taught me all he knew, and I usually train in secret, as i was doing before i was very rudely interrupted by you both." Sanemi was about to open his mouth, possible for a witty (witless we all know how he is) remark, but Obanai stops him to speak himself. "And where is this 'father' you speak of then?" Hiroshi looks down for a moment, before glancing back at the two. "He is dead." Hiroshi says, in a near solemn flat manner. Sanemi speaks up, looking at Obanai "No wonder he's like this, fatherless and motherless, I bet they got bored of his goody two shoes act and went and killed themselves. HA!" and at this point, Hiroshi had snapped, drawing his fathers sword and striking at Sanemi, which he immediately blocks with his own sword. "DO NOT SPEAK OF THEM IN THAT WAY!" Hiroshi yells, not even Taeko has seen this side of him. and Obanai merely backs away. "You did this to yourself Sanemi! just letting you know!" Obanai calls out before going back indoors. (chicken cough cough asthmatic cough) Hiroshi strikes again at Sanemi. "Star breathing! Eighth form! RISING COMETS!" and he sends a side slash towards Sanemi; the sword glittering with sparks and comet-like lights, like a sword enveloped in the night sky itself. While dodging Sanemi's sword preparing to be sent down upon Hiroshi's shoulder. "HA! I LIKE YOU KID! MIGHT JUST SPARE YOU THEN" Sanemi Cackles, and kicks Hiroshi in the chest, and dodges his sword. Hiroshi is sent back by the impact but remains composed and blocks a swing of Sanemi's blade with his own. "I won't let you get away with insulting my parents memory like that!" Hiroshi yelled, as he then blocked another swing of Sanemi's nichirin sword. "Wind breathing! Sixth form, BLACK WIND MOUNTAIN MIST!" Sanemi shouted as he leapt upward dodging a blow from Hiroshi's sword, swinging in an uppercut movement, creating an arching green slash, grazing Hiroshi's cheek as he barely had time to dodge. "HAHAHA! I got you this time.... DON'T EXPECT ME TO HOLD BACK CAUSE YOU'RE BLEEDIN'!" Sanemi barks out, he seems to be having.... fun. "Who cares if I'm bleeding?! If i didn't know any better I'd think you cared! HA!" Hiroshi shouts in return, managing to swing his blade close enough to graze Sanemi's arm, not enough to make him worried though. "BAHAHA, me?! caring about you?! WHAT WORLD ARE YOU LIVIN' IN PUNK?!-" Sanemi laughs, and before Sanemi can strike again, clearly aiming for Hiroshi's neck, a flash of a black and white striped Haori dashes past the both of them, and the sensation of a swift slap to the face to each of the boys, followed by a angered- no, commanding voice, "Enough fighting you idiots! you're gonna kill each other and wake up the brats sister!" Obanai said with sneer. Sanemi merely growls and saunters off to the Inn, Obanai follows, glaring at Sanemi. Hiroshi heads to the room he and his sister Taeko share for the night, and surprisingly enough, she's still asleep "Oh thank goodness..." Hiroshi sighs under his breath, and he bandages up his cheek, and can't help but feel guilty for cutting Sanemi, but he knows it was necessary, as he would have died if not, but that didn't make him feel better. But he laid down in his futon on the left side of the room, closer to the door, and went to sleep. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next morning Hiroshi and Taeko awake, surprisingly unscathed, seems the two demon slayers left them alone. "Good morning Taeko-Chan!" Hiroshi beams, Taeko seems puzzled for a moment, before she asks "Onii-san, why is your cheek bandaged? did you get hurt?" she turns her head to the side a bit in confusion. "Oh, this? I just fell while taking a walk, that's all Taeko-Chan!" Hiroshi felt bad for lying, but knew he had to, for Taeko's sake. Later after eating breakfast that was politely given to them by the small elderly woman who kept the Inn, which they did thank. The two siblings went and continued their travel, having seen no sign of the two demon slayers Hiroshi met last night, and thank goodness for that. Explaining who the two boys were to Taeko, would be problematic to say the least, but the thought of the white haired boy- no, Sanemi, made his brain itch in the worst way, for once, Hiroshi was sure he hated someone, he hated Sanemi. (Great thing they won't see each other ever again, oops- I was not meant to say that... OH WELL!) After taking stops here and there, and resting at Inns and gracious hosts (which Hiroshi counted his blessings because my goodness how kind they were) they reached their grandfather's cottage, enveloped in the seemingly endless, luscious wisteria woods on Mount Fujikasane, there was no grandfather to be seen, only a gravestone with the name 'Kisube Hoshimiwa' engraved on it. As they expected, because the sole reason they were able to live here, is through the death of their grandfather granting them ownership of this small property. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And after playing around, unpacking, and settling in, Hiroshi and Taeko felt at home, as if they had found a place to belong once more. Indeed they would miss the countryside but this was- and Hiroshi's train of though was interrupted once more. "Onii-san! can you braid my hair?" Taeko Pleaded, her beaming face putting Hiroshi out of his thoughtful trance, he smiled. "Of course Taeko-Chan! but you know I will have to brush it, right?" "Awww, but Onii-san.... fine..." Taeko groaned, as she did not like having her hair brushed one bit. Hiroshi smiled, and the two sat and he braided her hair, the domestic feeling of peace creeping past the wisteria laced breeze, through the warm sunlight that peeked through the canopy above, and through the summer warmth that he wished to last forever, and it would, for him. As he wished for Taeko to live a long, peaceful happy life, not knowing how much she will suffer in the future, but, will she find peace after pain? Only time will tell I suppose... {End of chapter two} --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TIME FOR A TAISHO ERA SECRET! Did you know that Red bean mochi is Sanemi's favorite food? but he hides it from his demon slayer comrades because he does not like sharing information with them, let alone growing soft! and the white haori he wears? he matches with Mitsuri because he gave her a spare to help cover her better, because of the uniform the perverted Kakushi gave to her, insisting that it was 'the standard uniform for females' Kimetsu no fact time! a Kakushi is a low ranked worker who does all-round duty, as a sort of multi tasker, but they don't fight demons normally though NEXT CHAPTER: It seems the peace of the two siblings will be interrupted, and Hiroshi will battle once more! will he survive? or will he meet his end? FIND OUT NEXT TIME ON HASHIRA OF THE STARS: A KNY FICTION TALE! note: I understand Sanemi probably didn't actually do that for Mitsuri, but LET A GIRL DREAM DANGIT! SUSAN. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Chapter 3: "Wake up, Onii-san!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[Taeko's POV!]})- It's been about a week since you both arrived here to your grandfathers cottage, and as much as you've missed the countryside where you used to live, it was nice here. The wisteria that never seemed to wilt, the warm summer light, and yet, it all felt cold, compared to the light of your brothers smile, the warmth of his kindness, and his endless compassion. And nothing would change that- "Taeko-Chan? lost in thought again?" he chuckles "Silly girl..." You snapped out of your seemingly trance-like state. "Just thinking, is all." you said, looking up at your brother while you both continued your walk around the wisteria. "Onii-san, I have a question..." you say, looking up at Hiroshi with furrowed brows. "Oh? what's that question then Taeko-Chan?" he asked, looking down with a warm smile. "Do you like it here?" Taeko asked, and Hiroshi's smile merely widened. "Of course I like it here Taeko-Chan! you silly! I love it here!" Hiroshi beamed, and picked up his sister, twirling her in the air "Look at this place! its lovely! just like you Taeko-Chan!" Hiroshi laughed, You giggled, smiling brightly "Onii-san! put me down!!" "Alright, alright Taeko-Chan!" Hiroshi put you down, still smiling. Later that day, after Hiroshi had braided your hair, much to your dismay since he brushed it too, Hiroshi had left for his usual wood errand, as Taeko waited at home, knowing Hiroshi would be back before dark, as you know he always would... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[Hiroshi's POV!]})- Hiroshi felt kind of bad to leave Taeko by herself, but he knew he'd be back before sundown, she'd be safe, heck, that was the real reason you two moved here. To stay near the Wisteria to ward off... Demons. Hiroshi only partly left for wood, he also went to train, to make sure he didn't become weak while living here with Taeko. He had to keep her safe after all. Hiroshi used his father sword, cut down trees with sparkled slashes, sometimes imagining the trees were Sanemi, much to his reluctance, and conscience, he kind of hated him. After all he did threaten to both him and Taeko. Which in his book, would never stand! yet he still felt guilty for having such improper thoughts like that, it felt... wrong, to wish such a fate on anyone, despite what he did. After bringing more than enough wood, he returned to Taeko at their cottage, and cooked dinner, and played with her (to her request, AND THANK GOD she didn't bring out the makeup, Hiroshi didn't know if he could survive being the princess again.) and went to sleep. Neither of the siblings knowing what was to come. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[??? POV!]})- He walked around, daring not to walk into the Wisteria, but something drew him there, calling him. The stench of the wisteria nauseated him beyond belief, more than Douma did. but there was an aroma seemingly drawing him past it. the aroma of blood... Strong blood. The demon walked into the wisteria, the scent seemingly mocking him, taunting his senses, sickening to his core. his thoughts told him to turn and walk away... but every fiber told him, 'Go forth, seek it out. ꄙꀤꋊꂡ ꋖꀍꏹ ꃃ꒒ꁏꁏꂡ'. He walked through the disgustingly purple flower strewn trees, illuminated by the moon, how he longed to feel the sun, without it turning him to ash of course, but for now, the moon would have to do. The demon came across a cottage, where the strong odor a Marechi, the demon grinned widely, knowing that he'd rise to a higher rank because of this being, he, would become strong. All because of this human. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[Hiroshi's POV!]})- Hiroshi woke up to the sound of a shoji door, he looked over to the futon beside him, and saw Taeko was still asleep soundly next to him. Hiroshi's heart dropped, Jolted up out of bed and grabbed the sword he kept below the foot of his sleeping mat, and glanced around, seeing through a gap in the shoji, a man, clad in white bontan pants, pale grey skin, a mulberry colored vest, fuchsia hair, blue sclera and yellow iris', along with black lettering of "upper rank 4" playing as his pupils. and most noticeable, the dark blue body & face markings strewn symmetrically across him. The man- no, the demon... makes eye contact with Hiroshi, his grin widening at the sight. Hiroshi's breath caught in his throat, his palms sweat, he shook down to his core. 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣?... why is he shaking like this- "Ah, a little demon slayer! what a surprise, I had no clue one of you would be here!" the demon cooed, gesturing to Hiroshi's sword that he clasped onto for dear life as he slid open the shoji door, walking to the boy that shook before him. "State your business demon!" Hiroshi hissed through bated breath. the demon merely chuckled, his voiced laced with the sort of animosity coated in kindness, a sort of toxic poison that seeped into Hiroshi's soul, sending a sickening feeling down his spine. "My name is Akaza, upper moon four, soon to be three, thanks to you, Marechi." Hiroshi's eyes widened for a mere moment, before stepping back to block the demons view of his sister, but to no avail as he had noticed her before. "Don't take another step demon! or I'll retire your head from your shoulders!" Hiroshi shouted at the demon, heart pounding in his chest. Akaza merely hummed in delight, and looked at Hiroshi with a smile that in itself was endearing, but under these circumstances it very much so was not. "hm, afraid I won't be doing that any time soon, demon slayer." Akaza cooed, his words like honey having been laced with arsenic, made to be kind, but made deadly. Just then, Akaza dashed forward, Hiroshi barely managing to block him from his sister while dodging, '𝙝𝙚'𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩!' he though. And this... this made him mad Hiroshi swung his sword at Akaza with pure intention to kill, the spark in his eye fueled by determination undeniable. "You can hurt me, BUT NO ONE LAYS A HAND ON MY TAEKO-CHAN!" he cried out, and "star breathing, third form... COSMIC WHEEL!" and threw himself forward, tucking to a mid air spin, sword alit by what seemed like the light of a hundred stars, coming down in a downward strike. Akaza dodged, Hiroshi's cosmic wheel cutting into the floor. Akaza laughed. "HA! I have no interest in fighting a woman! your sister no less, but you... YOU'RE A FIGHTER! Usually I'm against playing with my food! BUT YOU, I'LL MAKE AN EXCEPTION!" He said in a seemingly loud exhilarated cackle. "In that case, then I suppose, I WON'T LET YOU KILL ME EITHER!" Hiroshi yelled, striking at Akaza repeatedly, as he blocked and dodged in a sort of dance. "HAHAHA, I LIKE YOU DEMON SLAYER, YOU SURE ARE FUN TO PLAY WITH!" Akaza laughed. And just behind Hiroshi, Taeko sat awake, watching in horror as her brother combated this strange man. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[Taeko's POV!]})- '𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙣… 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙊𝙣𝙞𝙞-𝙨𝙖𝙣? 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮? 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙊𝙣𝙞𝙞-𝙨𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜?' Thoughts ran through the girls head at the time, you were afraid, you were unsure what was going on. Just as quickly as you got lost in thought, words pooling in your head, Hiroshi shouted "TAEKO-CHAN, GET AWAY FROM HERE! GO SOMEWHERE SAFE!" as he traded blows with the strange man, Hiroshi was being hurt, and you couldn't handle seeing it. You shot up, and with tears in your bright opal eyes, grabbed the strange mans leg "DON'T HURT MY ONII-SAN, PLEASE!!" you called out frantically, you saw the horror in your brothers face as he froze, seeing you holding onto death itself. the man merely looked down, faltering for a mere moment, before kicking you off his leg into a wall, you were stunned, not hurt badly, but that was enough to make Hiroshi snap. "DON'T TOUCH MY SISTER!" he screamed as he yelled something odd. "Star breathing, ninth form! METEOR VOLLEY!" And light enveloped fathers sword that Hiroshi always had with him, he slashed the man, and... he cut off his arm?! which landed in front of you, causing you to scream in terror, but... the mans arm... it... IT GREW BACK?! "YOU'RE STRONG! no ones ever took this much off of me... become a demon, AND WE CAN FIGHT FOREVER!" the strange man yelled to Hiroshi, and Hiroshi merely Scowled and countered as he kept landing blow after blow with strange sparkling moves. "NEVER WILL I BECOME ONE OF YOU, AND HAVE TO WALK THIS EARTH FOREVER WITHOUT MY SISTER! but, I'M GONNA KILL YOU, AND MAKE SURE SHE LIVES A HAPPY LIFE!" Hiroshi yelled, and blow after blow, strike after strike, slash after slash, though the strange man had no weapon, he still kept an even ground with Hiroshi, until... he managed to kick the sword from Hiroshi's hand, snapping his wrist, he cried out in pain. Before he could grab his sword again, the strange man held it in his hand, out of Hiroshi's reach. The strange man let out a '𝘵𝘴𝘬' sound, grinning madly at Hiroshi. "Oh? you want this, don't you?" the man cooed, and you watched the scowl on Hiroshi's face deepen, you never saw him like this before, you wanted to help, but were unable, you knew the man would kill the both of you. "Become a demon then, join me... then we can fight forever, age will never exist for us, we will never die from wounds, none of the sort. Join me, Demon slayer." The man said with a snide smirk, holding one hand out to Hiroshi, which Hiroshi plainly smacked aside. "I wouldn't join you if it cost me my life." Hiroshi coldly spat. The mans smirk faltered, and he looked at Hiroshi with a sort of regretful stare. "So be it." he said. and, everything else was a blur, tears fogged your vision, as the man drove your fathers sword through Hiroshi's chest. You saw the look of terror and pain, twisting his face, he did not scream, or maybe he did, as you called out to him. but your ears rang. "Onii-san!!" you cried, as he collapsed. The man seemed remorseful as you ran to your now dying brothers side, it was not a sight you would like to imagine, you gripped his haori that stained itself in blood. "You should have become a demon while you still had the chance, human... whatever was your name anyway? no matter, you won't be needing to tell anyone your name anymore. how unfortunate for us both, isn't that right, girl?" The man said, but you didn't hear him, as you clutched onto you brother, crying your eyes out, you didn't even notice the man left. "O- Onii-san... don't leave me" you sobbed, Hiroshi gave you a weak warm smile, like you always remembered him to have. "Taeko-Chan... shh... don't cry, you silly girl... I know... You're sad... but... I have something to tell you..." You hung onto your brothers every word. you nodded, these were the words you remember most clearly through your whole life when you thought of him in the future. "The truth is... I- I lied.... Father was never... A wood smith.... he was.... A demon slayer... and this sword... was his weapon...." Your eyes widened, you didn't know half of what this was, but one thing clicked. that man. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧. was a 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣. "I kept you from this part of the world... To keep you from it... I failed, didn't I... Taeko-Chan?.." Hiroshi continued "I want you... to have this sword... Taeko.... use this.... to protect yourself... Protect the ones you love and cherish, with all your heart and soul... Become something... greater than yourself... Something to be proud of.... And I will watch over you, even when you can't see me... look up.... Look up to the stars Taeko-Chan.... aren't they beautiful?... Just... Like you..." Hiroshi smiled one last time, looking up to the ceiling that had partially collapsed, showing the night sky through the wisteria, his eyes half closed, you clasped his hand. "Onii-san..." you whimpered, tears in your eyes "Maybe... I'll be a star too... and shine just... as brightly as you.... Taeko-Chan..." Hiroshi said, voice barely a whisper, a single tear fell from his cheek, as his eyes clouded over, and he slipped away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[Kyojuro's POV!]})- Kyojuro heard from his Kasugai crow that a demon was spotted by the mountain. And since it was so close to his home, he was called to duty. When he arrived, he didn't see the demon, but saw a weak light further up the mountain. "this is quite odd!" Kyojuro beamed, in his usual joyful manner. Further scaling the mountainside, he faintly smelled demon, and smelled blood... Kyojuro's eyes widened, and he dashed up further, seeing a cottage in shambles, Kyojuro's heart sank at the sight, as he then heart faint cries of a child inside, he ran up to the cottage, threw open the shoji door with haste and came to a view he had dreaded seeing... A young white haired girl was bawling her eyes out over the body of a boy no older than him, dead, Nichirin sword skewering his chest. The girl didn't seem to notice him at all, and understandably so. Kyojuro walked over, placing his hand on the girls shoulder, only for her to flinch and back away, before seeing his face and seemingly calmed down slightly "Can you.... Help my Onii-san?... He- He's hurt...." She whimpered, Kyojuro only took a single look at the boy to know he was dead, but didn't have the heart to tell her in the ways Sanemi, Obanai, and the others would... "I'm sorry young lady but, I'm afraid... I can't help him." Kyojuro sighed, and smiled kindly at the girl, who at that information, her eyes watered once more "Do you have anyone else?" Kyojuro asked, the girl shook her head, and he had an idea "ah! you can come with me! you look to be the same age as my brother Senjuro! and I'm sure he'd love to have some company!" he said, beaming, but still worried for the girl. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[Taeko's POV!}])- You looked at the boy, he was like the sun, eyes bright and energetic, and hair vibrant like the summer light, like a candle softly lighting the grim scene you were in. You looked at Hiroshi one last time... and nodded at the boy clad in demon slayer uniform "I- I'll go with you..." you took hold of the very sword that your father wielded, the very weapon that killed Hiroshi, the very weapon that killed demons, that killed... you did not want to think much of it, but you grabbed it and attempted to sheath it, which the sun-like boy helped you do. "So, what is your name young lady?" the sun-like boy beamed loudly, reminding you of Hiroshi. "My name is Taeko... Taeko Hoshimiwa... nice to meet you..." You said glumly, and the boy wasted no time adding to the conversation. "MY NAME IS KYOJURO RENGOKU! YOU MAY CALL ME KYOJURO!" he said loudly, startling you slightly, you'd have to get used to... this, you suppose. "Nice to meet you... Kyojuro-san..." you replied, clasping the sword in your hands. "We should be heading off soon! the smell of blood attracts demons! even in the wisteria!" you nod, and follow Kyojuro Rengoku to who knows where, but you didn't mind, as at least you had somewhere to go, but you did not want to leave your brother alone... Even if he was... no, best not to dwell on it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[GENERAL POV!]})- It was around sunrise when Taeko arrived with Kyojuro Rengoku, and were greeted by a boy not much older than her, nearly identical to the sun-like boy who brought Taeko here, and an older man also near identical, the older man seemed gruff and angered, as he walked back into the estate with a glare, drinking his sake. Taeko supposed... this was home now. {end of chapter 3} NOW TIME FOR A TAISHO ERA SECRET!: When Kyojuro brought Taeko to the Rengoku residence, Senjuro was so excited to have a new friend that he nearly threw up! AND THAT HAS BEEN ANOTHER TAISHO ERA SECRET! in the next chapter we'll find out: looks like Taeko grew up a bit! training hard, honing her skills, being taught by Kyojuro san and even by his father, who you later learned was named Shinjuro! will she make it to final selection? or will she be too weak to do what breathing techniques her brother used? FIND OUT NEXT TIME IN: HASHIRA OF THE STARS! A DEMON SLAYER FAN NOVEL and for a short Kimetsu no fact! did you know that a Marechi is a human with a rare blood type significant to eating 50 to 100 humans? _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- edit: i start loosing my mind here lmaoaoaoaoooo Chapter four: "You'll be okay, right?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------XPPB895qAK----------------HZFxu6UE0k--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[Taeko's POV!}])- It's been a while... since, that day. It seems empty without him. You feel broken, incomplete, and dead. You wish you could be with Hiroshi again, you didn't think to eat, you didn't care. Kyojuro did try and get you out of your 'days-without-Hiroshi-funk' and helped a little, but you still felt horrible, like you could have saved him somehow. "AHA! I JUST HAD AN IDEA!" Kyojuro booms, startling you out of your trancelike thoughts. "H- huh?" you stuttered. "TO CURE YOUR SEEMINGLY ENDLESS DEPRESSION, HOW ABOUT TRAINING?" Kyojuro suggested, loud as ever. "Why?" "BECAUSE IF YOU CAN FIGHT THEN WHY BE SAD WHEN YOU KNOW OTHERS CAN RELY ON YOU TO SAVE LIVES?" "Good point... I suppose it wouldn't hurt to-" "GREAT NOW CATCH!" "Huh?!" Kyojuro then threw you a bamboo pole sword. "What am I meant to do with this?" you had asked bewilderedly. "SWING IT IN THE AIR AND BECOME STRONGER!" "W- wait what?" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- skippity bippity scene go YEETITH (editors notes lmao am i right ladies and gents and lil genderless beanoz who read this) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[Akaza's POV!]})- 'What's this?' He thought. Someone matching his strength? even by this much, even barely, a demon slayer worthy of his time, for the very least. And he even offered him a chance to gain immortality, what's not to like about that? he can fight forever, and be his rival! Why not accept?... And yet. That demon slayer continued to trade blows with him. And he did it, Akaza knocked his sword from his hand, and was humble enough to offer again! "Become a demon then, join me... then we can fight forever, age will never exist for us, we will never die from wounds, none of the sort. Join me, Demon slayer." and expecting this human to cave in, to be on his knees begging for his life. But no. he has the AUDACITY to say he wouldn't join if it costed him his life (which it did) "So be it." Akaza said, disappointed in the demon slayer for denying him not once, BUT TWICE. And so, Akaza pierced the boy with his own sword, 'Quite the shameful end' Akaza thought with a giggle, and much to the boy's dismay, his sister had witnessed such, and came to his aid to no avail. "You should have become a demon while you still had the chance, human... whatever was your name anyway? no matter, you won't be needing to tell anyone your name anymore. how unfortunate for us both, isn't that right, girl?" Akaza said with a sneer, and stepped out of the children's cottage. Only to find himself returning mere hours later, the girl was gone, as too was the very sword used to skewer the demon slayer. But the boy himself remained. Akaza found the boy to be breathing, to be alive, but barely. And so he picked up the demon slayer and walked off into the night. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ooooohhhh he def aint gonna eat Hiroshi... right? 👀👀👀 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[?!?'s POV?]})- The boy awoke, it felt as though he was asleep for a thousand years, if not more. yet, he didn't remember anything from before he fell asleep. no mother, no father, no life before, yet in the back of his mind a voice echoed through, 'best to ignore it.' he thought. Before him was a man he had never seen, a man with black hair, pale skin, and fuchsia catlike eyes, clad in a black suit and white hat. He did not know why, but the man had an aura that sent shivers down his spine, and gave him an unshakeable sense of dread... A sense of death. "Ah, alive at last I see. Took you quite long enough." the man in front of him said. The mans words and voice nearly sending the boy into shivers. "You must not comprehend who I am, at this moment." the man started. "But, as I may explain, though if you are deserving enough to even be living right now... The rest should click." The man said, sitting down on his throne of sorts. "I, am Muzan Kibutsuji. And you, are filth. HA! that might just be what I name you- But, seeing the glass eyed look upon your pathetic face... Hiyume will do just fine." the man said, and hearing his name... Muzan Kibutsuji.... made the boy- Hiyume, feel as though he was going to die. And with a wave of his hand, Muzan ushered Hiyume away. "Get out of my sight, your time in my presence has expired... Nakime, send it away." Muzan spat, and with a strum of biwa strings, Hiyume was in the woods, who knows where... but, he craved something, he felt hungry, and felt that food would not suffice him... he craved one thing, and that... was human flesh. Hiyume... was a demon. Grey skinned fanged, with slightly longer hair than before, that was a strange shade of blue- wait... before? hadn't he always had been this way?... Hiyume looked around with glassy, empty yellow eyes, and carried on, as he had picked up a smell, the enticing aroma of humans. and with hands that once cared, he slaughtered many with blackened claws, and feasted upon such... Who was he before? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -({[general POV!}])- "Kyojuro-san... How much longer must I strike the air with this... 'stick'?" Taeko groaned, and Kyojuro merely laughed heartily. "Ah, you must specify further Taeko-Chan! how much longer today, or in total? which both have the same answer I'm afraid, which is.... A WHILE!" he laughed again, Taeko merely stared at the flamelike man 'is he... crazy?' Taeko though, and somehow, as if READING her thoughts themselves, Kyojuro said with a smile- "Ah, I haven't gone mad though, yet might I add" he said with a chuckle before continuing. "Training is just hard work! and you must train not only your body, or your mind, but your heart and soul! and I believe in you Taeko-Chan! you can indeed push through and learn to fight demons! Senjuro trains as well, look at him go!" Kyojuro gestures to a young Senjuro, who is slashing at a straw dummy with a bamboo sword, such as the one Taeko holds at the moment. "So carry onward! and keep going!" he said, Taeko nodded and continued with her own training. "Great job! keep that up and you will become a demon slayer like me! you too Senjuro! you both will become amazing! and father will be proud of you both!" Kyojuro exclaimed, earning a scoff from Shinjuro behind the shoji door. That man was always drinking, ever since Kyojuro and Senjuro's mother died, and had been quite brash and gruff towards most everyone. Taeko didn't know the details, and didn't want to push it at all, so left it be. ----------------------------------------------------------sbdhdgdhd time skip weeeeeeeeeeee-------------------------------------------------------------------- ({[Taeko's POV!}])- Weeks went by, you and Senjuro trained with the help, teachings, advice, and unmatched support of Kyojuro, growing close and becoming close friends. Though you, reasonably so, still grieved over your brother, and this particular night was a full moon, like the one during the night Hiroshi had been slaughtered. you found herself weeping as you stared pointlessly at the sky, like staring hard enough would bring you back to their cottage, where Hiroshi once braided your hair when the two of you played, where he was alive... The sound of the shoji door to the guest room of where she slept startled you, hastily turning around to see Senjuro looking back with worry. "Taeko-Nii-chan... are you alright? I heard sniffling coming from here, and thought you were hurt, was training too hard today? Are you sick?" Senjuro asked thoughtfully. you smiled slightly and wiped your eyes from tears. "I'm alright Senjuro-san... Thanks though, Just felt sad, is all... really I'm fine." Senjuro sat beside you at the shoji opening, that stooped into the back yard, where the moon was clear in the sky. "I see... You miss him still, don't you?" Senjuro asked. "Yeah... I kind of do..." Taeko sighed, rejoining her one sided staring contest with the moon. "Hey... I know... missing someone, is hard, because... you know they'll never come back, and you feel like they left you, and it makes you wanna hate everything, doesn't it? like... like the very sky had spat on your face, like the air had tried to poison you. But... as much as we wanna hold onto these feelings... it- It isn't right... The people we lost wouldn't want us to cry, or despise the world because of them." Senjuro began, "And... I bet my mother, and your brother... are up there, watching over us! I bet they're proud of who we're becoming-" Senjuro paused, seeing you had begun to cry again... "T- Taeko-Nii-chan... Did I... say something wro-" you then hugged Senjuro tightly, which Senjuro reciprocated with patting her hair. "You'll be okay, right?" Senjuro asked, and this time you answered him. "I'll try to be... Thank you Senjuro-san... for... for everything..." "A- ah, well, it's getting quite late Taeko-Nii-chan... we have training again tomorrow as well! I suppose I'll see you then!" Senjuro had left, closing the shoji door behind him, and you tried getting some sleep. When you finally did, above in the sky, a two single stars shined brighter than the rest, looking down from above. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- general pov sue me Again, after a general useless time skip because the author was too lazy to write all the way to age 15 of the main character and Senjuro, Years went by, and training got more intense, but Taeko and Senjuro could handle it, Senjuro fell behind though, yet Taeko continued to train with him and help him push forward. Kyojuro returned from another mission that day, during said USELESS time skip he had become a Hashira! Kyojuro came to the backyard where the two children trained. "I HAVE NEWS!" he exclaimed, and turned to Taeko, and oh how she'd grown... and taken to training clothes instead of kimonos as well, and unfortunate as it may be, but practical, had cut her hair to about chin length, quite choppy and slightly uneven, due to the fact she had done it with A KATANA, but it suited her. Her eyes no longer grief ridden and empty, and more of a sharp daggerlike stare, but still obtained all of her kindness and pain. "FINAL SELECTION IS THIS WEEK! AND I HAVE SIGNED YOU UP FOR IT!" Taeko seemed shocked, "What..." "INDEED!" Kyojuro loudly confirmed, and even Senjuro was a little surprised, Shinjuro merely huffed and returned to his room, sake in hand. "W- wow! that's great Taeko-Nii-chan! I hope you make it though..." Senjuro said, and hugged and Taeko, none knew that this... was the start of a great story (cough cough author narcissism) -({[end of chapter 4!]})- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOW FOR A TAISHO ERA SECRET! at some point during her stay, Taeko was ACTUALLY spoken to by Shinjuro, sure he merely said to fix her form while training, but it was something! next time! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- will Taeko survive final selection? or be eaten by demons? who else will be there? FIND OUT NEXT TIME, ON HASHIRA OF THE STARS! also i understand i stupidly changed your/you/you're pov into taeko/she/her im sorry imma fix that (WHICH I DID BAHAHAHA-) _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- chapter five: "EEEEEEEEEEHOLY CRAP IM GONNA DIEEEEEEEEEE!!!! SAVE MEEEE!!!!" _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- -({[Taeko's POV!}])- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Final selection?... You've heard of it from Kyojuro before... but never thought you'd hear those words come from his mouth... in that order... 'FINAL SELECTION IS THIS WEEK! AND I HAVE SIGNED YOU UP FOR IT!' huh... but what about Senjuro?... he still couldn't use flame breathing, and you weren't the best with it either. You didn't want to leave him behind, but... you felt like you have to now... The rest was a buzz, you didn't hear what else he had to say to you... But all you had to say, was "What..." how was that a good idea? because... final selection, there were demons... mount Fujikasane, where- where Hiroshi died... and where she'll die too... WAIT- she won't die! she can't! she had to prove she could fight like Kyojuro-san, and avenge Hiroshi and- you were cut off from your raging thoughts by a tight hug from Senjuro, which you quickly returned, gripping onto his haori in a way. "W- wow! that's great Taeko-Nii-Chan! I hope you make it though..." "I'll try... Senjuro-san... and I'll come back home!" "Well I should hope so!" Senjuro huffed "Without you, who else would train with me while brothers on missions?" "haha... guess that's true! another reason why I should fight my hardest then, and come back to all of you." you said, Shinjuro scoffed at it from behind the shoji door and said in his usual gruff tone "Don't get your hopes up, you'll probably die like half the brats being sent there." "Father! I do not think Taeko-Chan would die! if I did I wouldn't have signed her up!" Kyojuro counters. "So be it, like I'd care about much of what happened to your brat anyway, she'd just be better off as a house wife if you ask me." Shinjuro huffs, Kyojuro merely crosses his arms and looks at you. "Don't listen to him, I'm sure you'll do great as a demon slayer! and maybe if you reach a high enough strength level I'll make you my Tsukugo!" he says, you nod. "Alright, I'll try then, though I can't say I'm not nervous" You laugh nervously. "Well I am glad you have confidence! keep that with you till the very end, and set your heart ablaze!" Kyojuro says and walks away, leaving you to training. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /!\ WaRnInG MILD GORE AND CANON TYPICAL VIOLENCE!! SKIP CHAPTER IF EASILY DISTURBED/!\ u have bean warned -({[Hiyume POV...]})- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hungry... so hungry... what to do, what to do... he needed to feed, he needed to find a village, or house, or traveler, fast, not that he'd starve. The urge to kill merely becomes strong, too strong. and last time that happened... there weren't even bodies to bury. too many stray limbs to count, blood marvelously painted the streets that night, a glorious work of art... And all done mere hours before the demon slayers appeared, so he was free to escape before even the sun could catch him, lest he risk being burned alive and turned to dust, such a disgracefully weak end to a demon. Made him weak. Hiyume hated being weak. He never really thought much, mostly clouded thoughts and non existent memories. like an itch he couldn't scratch, even if he tore his skull apart, and peered inside himself, dismembering each lobe with swift claws, to grasp his memories himself, none of that would work. Worth a shot at least, then he'd have some sort of 'grasp' on his mind. Even if only literally, he supposed. He didn't know why he felt so violently gore filled, so pleased by the crimson liquids that fell onto his hands, so ecstatic when he heard the screams of his food. "Just wonderful" he'd say out loud. Teeth upon flesh, claws digging deep. Who could ask for more, really? but after the slaughters he felt empty... Why did Hiyume feel empty? who was this voice? echoing names from the past, fogged, too fogged to hear. But they were there. Calling for him... or, was it them they were calling for? were the voices calling for him to stop killing? for the ones he mercilessly slaughtered in glee? it never made sense! all just some odd record playing on repeat in his head! it made him wanna go crazy! Killing silenced them, silenced the voices, consuming... Silenced them, drown out the voices with screams. That'll help... maybe. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- alright ur free from zeh gore mb pookies <33333 -({[Taeko's POV!}])- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Training non stop is tiring, after the news of final selection, you've taken to training twice as much to get stronger and rid yourself of anxiety. Not that it helped haha. And the day before final selection you finally get a good nights sleep, or... you try at least? and when you wake up the next morning you're somewhat ready for what's to come. You woke up early that day and got dressed in your typical training outfit (of your choice I picked the oc's appearance you can pick the outfit I want yall to have fun- OOPS I BROKE THE FOURTH WALL CARRY ON) and firework patterned haori, because fireworks are the most perfect combination of flame and star, that remind you of the two most important figures of your past and present. And find that Senjuro woke up just as early as you did... and... packed you food? tears rim the edges of your eyes, "Y- you packed that?" "OH! good morning Taeko-Nii-Chan!" he beamed "Senjuro-san... you didn't have to do that..." "Yes but if you had gotten hungry and died up there, how would I live with myself?" You pull Senjuro into a hug. "Thank you..." And so you went off, and ascended the climb up mount Fujikasane, and were met with a group of children no older than you. A boy, clad in a cloud haori, and an odd kitsune mask, and crimson brown hair. another, strangely blonde with orange tips, and a yellow haori with triangles on it, he's mumbling to himself, and then a somewhat odd child with a black mohawk of sorts, and a black and purple outfit, and a very... intense sort of angry rat stare and a girl with bangs and a black side ponytail, and glassy purple eyes, and a butterfly hairpin, and some other, more generic children. Including you, there's about twenty one. Not many, and you know for a fact, grim as it may be to think this, that there won't be many survivors, you'd be lucky to get lucky with just ten remaining. "I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die... IM GONNA DIE NOOOOO" the blonde sobs, you merely look at the boy concerned, and attempt to comfort him "Uhm... You'll be okay-" "IM GONNA DIEEEEEE ITS NOT OKAYYYYY" and before you could even realize what was going on, said blonde boy was clinging onto your leg sobbing like a maniac. "Oh... uh, W- why are you grabbing me?" you both are interrupted by two children, one black haired, and another white haired, identical in every other way. "Welcome to final selection." one says before the other finishes, as if rehearsed "Where you will prove worthy to become demon slayers." "And the strong will survive." "But the weak will perish" they continue with such fluid transition its hardly believable that they didn't rehearse it. "You must survive in the wisteria for a week" "And fight off the low level demons inside and reach the mountain top" and then, somehow say in unison "And then you will choose your ores, and have Nichirin swords crafted specially suited to your needs." "To kill demons." This all seems a bit cruel to you, but it is how the demon slayers work, and it's how Kyojuro became a demon slayer, so you have to, too. You had completely forgotten about the wailing blonde clutching your leg until now, as you try to carry onward into the wisteria, only to feel weighted down and held by the boy. "Would you let me go please?" The blonde merely shakes his head "NOOO I DONT WANNA BE ALONEEEEEE" he then looks up at you, which you've currently adopted a look of pure distained confusion. "Wait... wait wait wait... YOU'RE A GIRL?!" and you've had it, you've had it with his scaredy cat act. "So? did your tears fog your vision or somethin'?" "W- WELL IF I HAD KNOWN YOU WERE A GIRL I'D... I'd..." he mutters "You'd what?" you ask with a slight glare. "PROTECT MEEE" the blonde wails. "What- nope! nope nope nope you're on your own!" you manage to get out of his grip and run into the wisteria woods to complete final selection. Granted, demons were TERRIFYING. But not as scary as the demon who killed Hiroshi, so that made it a little bit easier. Using your father and brothers sword, you cut down demons with somewhat ease, still difficult, still scary. and you've conserved food, and barely slept. It's been a few days, three to be exact, you couldn't tell, though. Because of the thick everlasting Wisteria canopy you know so well. In the midst of traveling through the thick purple flowers, you hear a shrill screech "EEEEEEEEEEHOLY CRAP IM GONNA DIEEEEEEEEEE!!!! SAVE MEEEE!!!!" you look around confused, immediately knowing who it is. "Oh not again..." yet you run in to save the blonde anyway. "WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU, BLONDE GUY!?" "ITS CHASING MEEEEEEEEEEE" and you're met with the sight of the blonde being chased by... a curse, a weird four legged one which you cut the head off of, sending it shrieking and flailing before it turns to ash "YOU SAVED MEE THANK YOU!!!" the blonde clings to you like a koala, while you just stand, confused. "What's your name??" he asks "I WANNA KNOW THE NAME OF MY SAVIORRR" you sigh, giving in. "Hoshimiwa Taeko..." "TAEKO-CHANNNN MY BELOVEDDDD" "Please stop" "YOU'RE SO STRONG AND AMAZING AND PRETTY AND-" "SHUT. THE HECK. UP." the blonde flinches and regains his golden retriever-esque nature "Ohhhhhh you must wanna know my name! hehe~ Taeko-Chan you're so shy aren't you?" he waves a hand flattered, you roll your eyes "Zenitsu Agatsuma! forget it and I will probably cry!" he states, shaking your hand energetically, practically beaming while giggling. You peel the blonde- wait no, Zenitsu, off of you, and begin to walk away "W- Wait Taeko-Chan! let me tag along!" "Ugh... fine..." you were never really annoyed by anyone so you don't really get why HE makes you so dang annoyed, like some nerve only he can hit, it's weird. You don't like it. "Yippie!" and he stuck with you like glue- no, like a blonde piece of gum. FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. And at night the two of you stop at a flat area, you light a small fire, and care enough to share the food Senjuro packed, and Zenitsu yawns, and after consideration... "You can sleep, I'll stay up tonight" you attempt a smile, but it merely comes off as strained and tired "Really Taeko-Chan?" he beams. "Yeah, yeah. Don't look too far into it. Just go to sleep" Zenitsu eagerly nods with an owl-like smile and lays on the forest floor against a tree for 'comfort' of sorts, and you sit, and keep watch for curses. Hours later, you hear soft snoring, realizing Zenitsu had fallen asleep, and you remain vigilant. and hear rustling. Drawing your sword you hear a laugh, pretty scratchy and what you'd expect "Not one brat, but two! hehehe this is such bountiful harvest! yes yes yes! bountiful, bountiful!" you look around trying to find where it comes from, the voice shrill and scratchy. "Where are you, demon?!" you shout, and somehow Zenitsu is still asleep. 'what is he, a rock?' you think, being interrupted by a clawed hand coming at you, but you manage to dodge with only sustaining a cut on your cheekbone. "HAHA! you're fast, Demon slayer!" the demon exclaims, blue haired, grey skinned, horns too of course, 'psh, no originality!' you think, as the demon charges at you with a kick, short black kimono (idk what its called ;-; help) which you dodge again. "I'd suggest you keep to yourself demon!" you shout, STILL NOT WAKING UP ZENITSU, as he drifts away to Lalaland in his sleep. Your attempts to slay this demon have been futile, he's been beating you down little by little, and as you try to land a blow back on the demon, he tries to bite down on your arm, and before he can, you see a yellow electric flash, slicing off the demons arm, you trace it, to Zenitsu, who had dashed by with his katana and cut the demons arm off, distracting him. "Why you!-" The demon turns to Zenitsu, who isn't facing either of you, but he turns around, and he's... Sleeping? 'HOW?!' the demon attempts to hit Zenitsu, but its result sour, as you hear Zenitsu talk "Thunder breathing: first form, sevenfold. Thunderclap and flash!" and like lighting, the demon has been beheaded, and Zenitsu has fallen to the ground, asleep... what a strange guy... After what seems like days of the same fighting demons, you've traveled with the blonde up the mountain, and reached the finishing area. Greeted by the same two children. "Welcome" "It appears six have survived." The two children begin. "And with such completion, you will gain title as demon slayer-" you didn't quite pay attention to the rest, as you were busy with the fact Zenitsu was back to his 'I'm gonna dieee' routine. You had paid attention again just in time to see the cloud haori kid fight the Mohawk kid, pretty sure the cloud kid broke the other's arm, from the sound it made. and you were called up to pick your ores, the cloud kid with the kitsune mask picked first, and so did the butterfly hairclip girl, you didn't know where the Mohawk kid was, nor did you care. you had picked one, so did Zenitsu. And weirdly enough, you were assigned Kasugai crows, or rather... everyone else, got crows. Zenitsu got a sparrow, and you had gotten a Shima-enaga bird, "Wha- WHY DO I HAVE A SPARROW-" Zenitsu's sparrow chips, meanwhile you're enamored by your Shima-enaga bird. "Ohhhhhh my kami why is it so fluffy-" Your bird chirps, and somehow, you understand what it said "It said its name was Yuima- this is too cute" "HAHA- you have a cotton ball-" "SHUT IT" with Yuima perched on your shoulder now, you attempt to head down the mountain, only for Zenitsu to follow. "Hey! where are you goinggg??? can I come? pleeasseeee?" "No." "PLEEAASSEEEEE" he screeched. This went on four hours, till you gave in, at the... 194th 'please'. "ALRIGHT FINE JUST SHUT IT" "Yippee". And this was when you brought Zenitsu home to the Rengoku residence... how's that gonna go? hm? FIND OUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER IM TIRED. END OF CHAPTER 5 find out whether or not stuff goes on in chapter 6 when i make that anyway YIPPIE I CAN REST oh yeah right TAISHO ERA SECRET: Zenitsu doesn't actually know what his sparrow says, which the mentioned bird is named Chuntarou! so yayy _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Chapter six: "FUTURE WIFE?!?" You regretfully said to Zenitsu, giving into his pleads, and now he's going to come home WITH YOU. To the Rengoku estate, meaning he'd meet SENJURO, and Shinjuro, and possibly Kyojuro, and something in you told you that Shinjuro might just murder Zenitsu- "Why did I agree to this..." you sigh. "Becauseeeeee you care about me very very much and you don't want me to sleep on the streets?" Zenitsu teases, and you look behind you with a sideways smirk to face him. "Psh- Who lied to you?" you counter, Zenitsu feigns a dramatic gasp, hand on his chest, acting offended, though... he might actually be? "HOSHIMIWA-CHAN! RUDE!" he screeches, you cant help but laugh. Maybe this won't be so bad after all... Nope. Nope. This was just as bad as you imagined. "WHO IN GODS NAME IS THIS YELLOW MOP?!" Shinjuro spat, probably the sake talking though. "O- Oh, Rengoku-san... This is Zenitsu Agatsuma, he fought with me during final selection..." you had said. "Does it look I asked where he came from? I asked, why. Is. He. Here." "Well, I- I invited him to stay until we get our nichirin swords..." you say, and then Zenitsu pipes in. "AND HOSHIMIWA CHAN SAVED MY LIFE! SHE'S THE BEST!" "Zenitsu! shush!" "WHAT- ITS TRUE" "Alright, ALRIGHT I GET IT" Shinjuro barks. "I suppose he can stay, BUT JUST UNTILL YOU CHILDREN GET YOUR SWORDS, THEN YOU CAN FINALLY GET OUT OF MY HOME." "Thank you Shinjuro-san." you say, bowing. "So... Who's that? your dad?" Zenitsu asks from behind you, as he's been following you to your room (guest room) that you'll have to share, which is generous enough as it is. Coming from Shinjuro. "Wha- no! Shinjuro-san isn't my father, in any way! he's the father of the man who took me in a long time ago, Kyojuro-san, we aren't related but he treats me like family, like a younger sibling to say the least-" and you both are interrupted by the sound of someone running down the hall. "TAEKO-CHAN!!" Senjuro yells, immediately flying at you with a hug, nearly sending the both of you falling to the floor "Senjuro-san!" you said, hugging him back. "I just knew you were gonna make it back! I knew it!" he chirps happily, noticing Zenitsu. "OHHHH YOU BROUGHT A FRIEND?!" he says, releasing you from his tight gripped hug and bowing in front of Zenitsu "HELLO MY NAME IS SENJURO WELCOME TO THE RENGOKU ESTATE HOW ARE YOU-" "Psst- Senjuro you- you don't have to be so formal with him, That's Zenitsu Agatsuma, he's just someone I met during final selection, he'll be staying with us till we get our nichirin swords next week..." you say. "OH-" Senjuro bows again, and you facepalm. And on top of that, Zenitsu returns the bow, nearly knocking heads with Senjuro. "Thank you for letting me stay in your home!" Zenitsu screeches. "No I insist, thank you for coming here!" Senjuro counters, and you just decided to leave to your room, ignoring the back and forth between Senjuro and Agatsuma-san. Sitting by the same shoji door and porch-stop that you had sat at that night during the first months of your arrival, the very same night you had become good friends with Senjuro. Staring at the cherry blossom strewn sky, you sigh. The clouds overhead hold a pinkish hue, birds such as sparrows and birds you cant identify fly overhead. It all feels so blissful to experience, making you forget your cares near entirely. Hiroshi's demise, short lived yet fulfilled with happiness, though you wish you had spent your whole life with him, letting him see you grow up. Letting Hiroshi see you become married one day, you hoped every day that no matter what would happen he would be there. Sometimes you still imagine what he'd say if he had seen you return home from final selection. Would he be proud? scared? happy? maybe even angry. No telling with Hiroshi... In such euphoric bliss in the silence of the cherry blossom strewn breeze, in thoughtful quiet serenity around you, you were somewhat at peace, but all things must come to an end, don't you think? As Zenitsu Agatsuma burst through your door, disrupting whatever clarity you had. "HOSHIMIWA CHANNNNN WHY'D YOU LEAVE MEEEEE" he screeched rather loudly throwing you out of your thoughts. As that seems to happen a lot. You sigh, not yet turning to look at the very... enthusiastic? blonde boy. "What is it, Agatsuma san?" "Oh hehe you don't have to call me Agatsuma san, you can call me Zenitsu kun, or cute, or your future husband!" he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, as you turned, bewildered by his comment. "Huh-" "OH NOTHING HOSHIMIWA CHAN HAHA...haha..." he said awkwardly. "Weirdo" you huffed. You looked back up at the sky, and Zenitsu then padded over. "I'm not weird!" he huffed as he plopped down beside you. "Pft- you definitely are" you said with a grin. Earning a slight blush from Zenitsu, and a swift shake of his head. "Am not!" He objected, which you ignored, staring at the very pinkish toned sunset sky yet again, only to find no sense of quiet in the blonde boy's presence. "You know... you have a nice place, I, I really like the view..." Zenitsu said, staring at you with a soft smile. Which you did acknowledge, looking at him before glancing at the sky once more. As it got darker by the moment, you spoke, in a fond tone. "Yes, I do too, it really is... nice" You were then caught off guard, when the blonde boy let out a yawn, yet you did not look back, but when you did, he was sound asleep. You sighed, dragging him by the arm, and haphazardly plopped the boy onto a spare bedroll you had taken from the closet mere moments ago. And you yourself, attempted to go to sleep. Across the room from Zenitsu of course, as you had indeed fought with (for) him during final selection, yet you did not trust him as much as you thought you should have, after all, the boy saved your life from that demon. In his sleep no less. And so as you slept in your own bedroll, hair askew on your pillow. You pondered your life once more, as you did always. What would have happened if you were able to save Hiroshi?... -([Hiyume's POV!])- Yet another night, of senseless killing. Nothing out of the ordinary for him though. As he rather enjoyed it. So to speak, As in his everlasting loneliness, the only thing that could fill his ears, was the screams that filled his hunger. Slow flashes of memory, going just as fast as they came. 'Onii-san! will you braid my hair?' a small voice said, before it faded away to time. "Who was that?..." the demon boy asked himself, as if expecting an answer of sorts. but of course. During such moment of question. He was alone, other than the bodies of ones that once breathed life, that now have faded out like the voices in his mind, vivid, but fleeting, moments from death, as all things are. Mortal... Hiyume had no clue, but did not bother with the matter much at all, he had learned, that some things, no matter how deep he delved into himself, they would remain unknown to him. Like the little voices that gave light to his dark existence. Master Muzan, the king of demons himself, had yet to speak to him at all, ever since he had been awakened years ago. How many years? He had no clue, but as he grew stronger, consuming human beings, evading the blades held by the calloused hands of demon slayers. Avoiding the basking light of the sun, meant to give life and meaning to the humans of the world. His poison... He rarely had seen the pink haired demon that brought him to Muzan, other than offering to spar from time to time, and becoming a pile of bloody mush each time, which he indeed learnt the demons name was Akaza. The rank three demon of the twelve Kizuki. Muzan's most loyal of dogs, to be blunt, yet it was to be either an honor, or curse to be apart of them. Hiyume had yet to be fated to such. Of which he was rather thrilled not to be so close to the king, as Akaza was, and... In the midst of one of their sparring matches, just before he had been beaten once more, as it had been occurring for years it seemed. A tall demon, clad in slightly formal, regal of sort clothing. and oddly white-to-blonde hair, as he couldn't tell, to be perfectly honest... And rainbow hued irises and an odd bloodlike splatter patterned upon his head embedded in his hair. He spoke with such bravado and poise that it was difficult to see him as a brutal demon, capable of killing millions in an instant, and he looked far too human to tell, and if it weren't for the tells of his eyes with the pupils as uppermoon two, the fangs that showed when he grinned, and the purplish blue clawed fingernails he had upon his hands, truly a confusing sight to behold. He spoke to Akaza, who clearly, was not amused in the slightest, rather irked by the strange demon clad in red. And as the odd looking tall demon continued with his one sided amused banter, and Akaza was nearly fuming with hidden anger tucked away so poorly that even Hiyume could feel it, and he was oblivious to many things. Hiyume very, VERY discreetly tucked himself aside, and gave the two uppermoon demons space for the inevitable downfall of Akaza's patience, and right when the other demon, (apparently named Douma) had begun to speak upon the humans he had killed, and the sounds they made (Douma exclusively had eaten females apparently) Akaza had snapped and punched the Douma fellow in the face, which... ended in knocking half of his head off his neck, including the perplexingly colored eyes of his. Which regenerated near instantly. Hiyume was indeed confused. Rightfully so, as Douma was a rank above Akaza, his superior. So why does Akaza dare do so, knowing that Douma could easily obliterate the pink haired demon in an instant. The punch was effective indeed, but still just brought out an ingenuous laugh from Douma himself, it did not seem like much could anger him, as he remained in a joyous state at near constantly. And this confused Hiyume even more, could he truly not feel? Even he had felt some form of emotion, whether it be emptiness, joy, or fear, depending on the situation it seemed. But this demon... clad in red humanlike clothes, he did not feel, he did not have any of the sort, was he devoid of all feeling? it seemed that even the amused expression and tone of his was fake, but well rehearsed. As thought after thought filled Hiyume's head about this demon, a flurry of words in a storm, as if written by a maniac with no regard for the life of their characters (A/N uhm... NOT ME HAHA) The very demon whos name consumed vast spaces of his thoughts had addressed him. Douma had addressed him. "Hm? oh my, a little friend of yours Lord Akaza? and here I thought you'd be alone forever!" upper rank two demon said with a rather amused (probably fake, apathetic) laugh. "Like it'd matter to you, If he had been anywhere other than here, you'd probably have killed off the kid already, wouldn't you Douma?" Akaza said with a slight unamused sneer, clearly hating this demon that stood before the two of them. "Oho you know me so well Lord Akaza, we truly are best friends then, aren't we?" Douma said with a fanged smile, patting Akaza on the shoulder, which Akaza had then swatted away, irritated by the rainbow eyed demon. "We are not friends, I save that title for ones I like, and you, are not anyone I like, or tolerate, you disgust me. do not forget that." he said with such distain that Hiyume had never yet seen from such a prideful demon like Akaza. "Oh how amusing of you Lord Akaza, like a feral stray cat rejecting all form of assistance! Oh well, I'm certain you'll come around eventually, besides, surely you aren't still sour that I became a demon after you, but still got promoted before you did, hm? that'd be petty, wouldn't it now?" Douma said with a smile, tapping his cheek idly, as if drawing attention to the rank two marking on his eyeball to taunt Akaza. Which the demon in return did not engage further thankfully, as he merely grabbed Hiyume firmly by the wrist and tugged him away from the demon clad in red. Hiyume did not care much of that new demon, and if Akaza hated Douma, he must have been truly horrid, because Akaza barely ever hated anyone, other than the weak, as he did not care much for the weak, which made Hiyume wary, 'What if he hates me?' Hiyume thought. But why did he care about what he thought... Perhaps, it was his strength, that made him look up to Akaza, his rich sense of pride, honor, and ideals, who's to say? But Hiyume did indeed respect uppermoon three, unsure that would ever change or not. But Hiyume was always wary of everyone, since he was awakened before Master Muzan years ago, learning that demons would never truly have your back, learning that demons are as cutthroat as they come. but he did not care much for other demons anyway, Akaza was really the only one he spoke to since then, other than Muzan Kibutsuji that time ago. But that was... less than desired for conversation, and more along the lines of 'let me speak or im going to kill you in your sleep' kind of way. Though Hiyume doubted Muzan would have waited that long to destroy him. Morbid to think about, honestly. But, it's the role demons play, apparently. To be morbidly ominous creatures that parents tell their children about to make them behave. But they were real, oh, they were. And most children would grow up, and find out the hard way. -([{Zenitsu's POV!}])- 'Oh sweet Hoshimiwa-Chan, saving me from demons countless of times, and letting me stay with her at her household too! how lovely of her, a ray of angry violent sunshine, all mine hehe' he thought with a smile, as he sat by Taeko in the guest room that they'd share for the time being, until they got their Nichirin swords forged and delivered, that is. But to Zenitsu it may as well be a few minutes, or months, years, centuries, with Taeko it didn't matter, besides, after they get their swords he could always cling onto her leg and be dragged around as she struggles to walk until she agrees to let him join her. All he knew is, that he is NOT letting her go. Now that morning earlier, was surely something to behold. Zenitsu slept soundly, hearing nothing but soft sounds of the crickets from afar, and the sound of Taeko breathing, (which: she doesn't even snore! not that he'd mind it much, Zenitsu always had good hearing, and when I say good, I mean he could hear your organs moving in your body from across the room. creepy right? Just imagine how he felt, being able to hear conversations he shouldn't hearing all the hidden chaos most would never notice! how is he still sane you ask? no idea, probably why he's so cowardly even. Fear of everything, because he can hear everything, and doing so makes him understand the mortality behind everything. Perhaps not even he knew why he feared the world, feared death, feared life, and feared what he'd become, disappointed that he'd become so afraid, perhaps then, if he weren't so cowardly, he'd be different, and maybe... if he hadn't been able to hear all those things since he was young, he'd be stronger. And he hated himself for it too, if only he had been stronger, then Taeko wouldn't have had to protect him and hurt herself in his stead, and maybe then... Maybe, he wouldn't have been so afraid to become a demon slayer... and could have fought his way out of his debt.) They slept the whole night through, though.. Zenitsu did wake up a few times to shoot a few glances at Taeko, seeing how peacefully messy she slept, he had to stifle the giggles threatening to come out of him. To be perfectly honest here, he felt a bit less scared, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘡𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺. 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴... 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬... 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘴, 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥... 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘰, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩. 𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵... 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥... Zenitsu shivered at the thought. At some point he did fall asleep, who knows what he dreamt about. I'm not quite sure even he knew (lazy ahh author if you ask me, but who am I to speak on that? why, I'm only the narrator for this ENTIRE STORYLINE- haha anyway carry on readers ignore me, teehee~) Zenitsu awoke that morning, spry as ever, and ready to take on the day (behind Taeko of course, but he'd still hate himself for it) The yellow clad boy woke not long before Taeko herself did, and let me tell you. Boy was he excited about that. "HOSHIMIWA CHANNNNNNN~" Zenitsu shouted before flinging himself at the poor white haired girl, which as deserved, he was hit in the face with a pillow. Harshly, mind you. But his persistence did not falter, The blonde merely got back up and tried once more, flinging at Taeko, arms outstretched, which she dodged, making him land on the floor beside her bedroll. "AGATSUMA SAN! WHAT THE HECK?" The white haired girl shouted at Zenitsu. "I just wanna hug you! lemme do it! Hoshimiwa-Chan!!!" Zenitsu screeched. "No. NO. NOT IN A MILLION YEARS-" Taeko started, before being cut off by her airways being nearly blocked by the arms of the blonde wrapping around her neck anyway. "Hehe~ you're so nice Hoshimiwa-Chan!" And despite the impending danger radiating off of the girl in white (who was downright fuming, mind you.), he persisted. Out of stupidity, bravery, or loyalty, not even he was sure of himself. Though he doubted it was bravery, because even the blonde boy himself knew he could not be brave, could he? And their day persisted in that way, Taeko kept up with her training with Senjuro, which Zenitsu had attempted to join but got thwacked by the bamboo sword too many times and gave up and watched mainly. And Kyojuro was on a mission, so he was not home. (Which Taeko was thankful for) Though usually, as Kyojuro was indeed a Hashira, he would only be away on his missions for a maximum of two weeks, and that would be soon. So hopefully the two new demon slayers' swords would be arriving before then. The girl in white did not wish to explain who Zenitsu was, not one bit. Thankfully for now, there was no sign of Kyojuro, and hopefully he remained safe. -({[Taeko's POV!}])- You woke up that morning, hoping the entirety of last week was an illusion, Hoping that you did not bring Zenitsu with you to the Rengokus' residence, that you didn't spend the week with him interfering with your training. Hoping the blonde boy was not here. You had hoped that you did not find Zenitsu Agatsuma during final selection. But all to your disappointment, he was sound asleep in the bedroll across the room from you. Getting up like the undead zombie you are, you carefully crept silently to the sleeping blonde and crouched beside him. "Psst, Wake up Agatsuma-san!" you whispered, gaining only a tired groan from Zenitsu. "Ugh... Noooooo Hoshimiwa-channnnn.... so cruel.... lemme sleeepp..." oh this poor little blonde child... how he was going to regret that. And with a swift hit with a pillow, the screeches were heard over mountains. END OF CHAPTER SIX: chapter seven- Zenitsu meets Rengoku Kyojuro, as they go off onto their first official mission after gaining their swords. and meet more people along the way! including... a boar? NOW TIME FOR A TAISHO ERA SECRET! Hiyume secretly DID have a slight crush on Akaza-san, though it might have just been his admiration, but... admiration can't lie, those were some nice abs~ STAY STARRY READERS! till next time :D