"WAAAAA! I CAN'T POSSIBLY TAKE ANYMORE OF THIS!"
Zenistu looked like he was pissing himself right now. You and the others however, were facepalming yourselves as the boy freaked out.
"We go through this every day," Aoi stated with her hands placed upon her hips in annoyance, "Saying that you're in bad shape is an understatement. Take your medicine this second!"
As Aoi walked away, Zenitsu took the cup in his hands, looking down inside as if he had to drink vomit. He trembled in his bed.
"Oh good grief." Aoi muttered to herself. She walked up to your bedside along with two girls beside her.
"Tanjiro and Y/n. These medicines are for you."
The two girls handed both of you a cup of medicine. "Here you go." They said with a joyous tone. You smiled up at them, "Thank you so much."
You put the cup up to your lips and downed the medicine.
"HEY!" You and Tanjiro turned your heads to see the amber eyed boy looking at the both of you in shock and confusion. "THAT WENT DOWN MUCH EASIER FOR YOU GUYS! IS MINE DIFFERENT? DID THEY PUT SOMETHING IN MINE? I CALL FAVORITISM!!"
Tanjiro tried to shush Zenitsu motioning his hands up and down to quiet him down. "Zenitsu! Quiet down this is a hospital ward."
"I CAN'T DO IT!" Zenitsu shouted as he leapt from his bed and hid behind you. Your brows furrowed in confusion as he hid behind you, yelling at the poor, sapphire eyed girl.
Without anyone even knowing and Zenistu causing a ruckus, a voice rung out right directly in front of you and Tanjiro.
"Hello there." Your heads snapped up to see the Insect Hashira standing in front of the three of you with a grin on her face.
"O-Oh! Hello." You bowed your head down to the Hashira. She smiled back at you.
"How are you all feeling?"
Tanjiro grew a grin, "We are doing much better now."
"Well, if thats the case, then why don't we start your rehabilitation training!"
┌───͙⊱••✩••̩̩͙⊰•───┐
* ~ Two weeks later ~ *
"Hmmm, I wonder what's going on with Y/n, Tanjiro, and Inosuke with Lady Kocho at Rehabilitation Training." Zenistu muttered to himself as he sat up on his bed looking at the ceiling. Thinking about what she was doing. Yui sat on the bed to the right and heard what he said.
"What's that?" She asked as she tilted her head slightly to the side. He turned his head to look at her. "It's where you train to rebuild your strength."
Yui grinned from ear to ear while looking at Zenistu, "That should be easy for Mommy and Daddy! They can do anything!" This caused him to giggle.
That's when the door to the hospital ward opened up. Their heads snapped over to see you, Tanjiro, and Inosuke.
And you three looked like death.
Your face looked exhausted and sunken in as you and Inosuke trudged back into the ward slowly. You felt so very exhausted. You just wanted to sleep. You all wanted to crawl into a hole and sleep.
"Hey... welcome back you two." Zenistu said, trying to sound as positive as he could despite seeing how bad you all were feeling. He could tell you all were tired. "How did it go today?"
You didn't respond as you just walked to your bed and threw the covers over your head. Hiding under the sheets.
"D-Did something happen?" Zenistu questioned in a worried way.
"M-Mommy? Daddy? Inosuke?" Yui asked.
"...sorry." You tiredly spoke out under the sheets.
"Don't mind us."
┌───͙⊱••✩••̩̩͙⊰•───┐
It was another day and you and the others reluctantly walked out and down the hallway.
Zenitsu clutched onto your arm and cried to himself, "Scared. Scared. Scared! I don't wanna go!"
The four of you walked in and kneeled onto the ground. Zenistu slowly followed in pursuit and looked up to see Aoi in front. The three girls by some mats. And Kanao sitting at a table with a bunch of cups scattered along the shining, wooden table.
"Alright, Zenitsu, since you will be joining us today, I shall go through the training regimen again." Aoi stated. She motioned to the three girls by the tatami mats. "You will begin there. Those girls will get your bed-ridden bodies limber again." She then motioned to Kanao, "Next, Reflex Training. These cups contain medicated water in them. The objective is to dump water onto the other person. But, there's a twist. Your opponent is able to block you from picking up your cup."
Tanjiro was seated on the other side of Kanao and stared intently at the cups.
"Go!"
Not even a second later, he was splashed with the water.
"Again."
He sat there with water dripping down his head and his hair as his shirt was covered in the water. He then grabbed the water and smiled, but was then again splashed with the water by Kanao.
"That's enough." Aoi stated as she then motioned to herself along with Kanao behind her who had recently walked up next to her. "Last, Full Body Training. Or to put it simply, a game of tag. You will face me, Aoi and then Kanao."
A moment of silence as you, Tanjiro, and Inosuke held your heads down as you had another day of training to do. Zenistu slowly raised his hand.
"Excuse me, may I say something?" Aoi blinked at the amber eyed male.
"Hmm? Is there something not clear?"
Zenistu slowly got up as his hair covered over his eyes. "No. It's not that. You two," He motioned to Tanjiro and Inosuke. "Come with me..."
Tanjiro grew a puzzled face. Inosuke just sat there, "Don't feel like it."
"I WON'T ASK TWICE SHUT UP AND FOLLOW ME!!" This took everyone in the room by surprise. He then grabbed Tanjiro and Inosuke by the collars of their shirts and dragged them out.
"YOU'RE COMING WITH ME YOU LITTLE URCHINS! I'VE GOT AN EARFUL FOR YA!"
"AHHHHHHH!!" "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING???"
"Zenitsu what are you doing?!" You asked as you followed them to the door leading outside. Zenistu looked at you and before you could even step foot outside, he slammed the door in front of you. You jumped back and furrowed your eyebrows.
Rude.
Zenitsu dragged them back and backed away from the blonde a bit, "Alright you two sit up straight! You miserable bastards!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO US??" Inosuke shouted, Zenistu came forward and threw a punch straight at Inosuke. He flew back while spinning and slammed his back into the wall, letting the noise ring out through the area outside.
"Inosuke!" Tanjiro turned around with an angry expression to face the blonde. "What are you doing?! Apologize to Inosuke!"
Zenistu snapped his head up with wide eyes. "ME APOLOGIZE?! YOU TWO ARE THE ONES WHO WERE ACTING LIKE YOU CAME OUT OF HELL WHEN YOU WERE REALLY IN PARADISEEEEE!"
What is with him??? Tanjiro thought. Zenitsu waved his hands angry at the two.
"ALL YOU GUYS DID WAS FROLIC AROUND WITH GIRLS ALL DAY! SO WHY DID YOU COME BACK LOOKING ALL HAGGARD LIKE THAT?! APOLOGIZE AND DROP DEAD!!"
Tanjiro having enough of this immature outburst, stood up and stared at Zenistu, "How could you say such a thing?! And what are you talking about?! Like this is something new to you? We would all hang out with Y/n all day and you never acted like this!"
"SHUT UP YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING! LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY!!!!"
Zenitsu then grabbed Tanjiro by the hair angrily, "YOU GET TO HAVE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS! GIVING YOU MASSAGES! YOU TOUCH THEIR HEADS DURING THE CUP GAME! AND WHEN YOU PLAY TAG, YOU CAN TOUCH MORE THAN THAT!!"
"ALL GIRLS HAVE NICE CHESTS, GREAT BUTTS, AND STRONG THIGHS! THEY ALL SMELL SO NICE WHEN THEY PASS BY AND JUST BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THEM MAKES MY HEART POUND LIKE CRAZYYYYY!! AND HAVING Y/N AROUND ALL THE TIME MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL MYSELF! IT DOESN'T HELP WHEN A GIRL IS AROUND YOU ALL THE TIME!!!"
"What the hell man? You're not making any sense at all! Is something so small just enough to blow your confidence?!" Inosuke yelled in frustration.
"THAT'S RIGHT! YOU WERE RAISED IN THE MOUNTAINS SO YOU'VE NEVER BEEN CLOSE TO A GIRL HAVE YOU??" Zenistu questioned in anger. "No wonder you're a late bloomer! I FEEL SO SORRY FOR YOU!"
"That's it!" Inosuke yelled again as he stomped over to Zenitsu who had steam emitting from his eardrums. "I HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO A GIRL BEFORE AND THAT'S Y/N! AND SHE, AS WELL AS THE OTHER ONES, HAVE NEVER BEEN A MATCH FOR ME!"
"I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT BITING!"
Meanwhile, you and the other girls were inside hearing the entire thing going on. Aoi was fuming like a tea pot ready to explode at any second. Kanao just stood there. The three girls confused as ever. However with you, you facepalmed yourself.
...
"I look forward to training with you~!" Zenitsu came back in and you tried hard not to say anything as well as the other girls. An irritated expression on all your faces. He came in looking like he was glowing from head to toe.
All the girls began to stretch him on the mats, pulling at his joints as he kept giggling loudly.
Tanjiro, you, and Inosuke looked at the boy with ignominious faces.
"I have— underestimated him. I always fight back tears from the pain but he's laughing from joy." Inosuke mentioned. Causing a sigh to escape Tanjiro's mouth.
Next, Aoi sat down across from Zenitsu at the Reflex Training table.
"And— go!"
Zenitsu quickly grabbed Aoi's hand before she could even splash him and he grabbed a cup from the other side of him and held it up. A proud smirk grew on his face as he squeezed her hand. Letting her know of her defeat.
He looked up at her with a sparkling face, "I would never throw a drink in a girls face."
Aoi's eye twitched in annoyance at the boy.
After that... event. Aoi and Zenitsu came up to the Full-Body Training area and stared each other down.
"Now to commence the Full-Body Training!" Zenitsu then disappeared and had Aoi stunned in shock. Out of no where, he latched onto her and yelled that he had won. Aoi punched Zenitsu away from her. He sulked in defeat as he walked forward with bruises already forming along his face. "I may have won the battle but I lost the war." He groaned in defeat.
"I WANNA DO THIS!" Inosuke shouted. He then won the reflex game. And the tag game. But he held Aoi upside down. You and Tanjiro groaned in annoyance.
We are the only ones who have the loosing streaks now. You thought looking down in shame. This is so embarrassing, I can't beat Kanao at any of the games. I hate to say it but Tanjiro hasn't either. I feel so bad. He should be getting it every time.
* ~ Five days later ~ *
For the next few days, you and Tanjiro had been losing to Kanao. As well as Inosuke and Zenitsu. Nobody could so much as land a finger on a strand of her hair. After a while, Zenitsu and Inosuke stopped coming. You and Tanjiro asked of Kanao to train the two of you. To which she slightly grinned at the two of you in acceptance.
...
"Thank you for the good— workout." Tanjiro breathlessly stated as he walked out along with you next to him. You were sweating to the core so badly.
You both were so deep in thought about thinking of what could be so different from yourselves and her that you didn't even noticed the three girls calling out your names.
"Tanjiro! Y/n!" You turned to find the girl with the two pigtails with blue butterfly clips looking up at you as she held your wrist. "A-Are you alright? We've been calling to you over and over."
"O-Oh! My apologizes!" You scratched the back of your head in embarrassment. "What is it?"
The poked at their fingers with looks of anxiousness.
"These are for you." They held up two towels to you both. You and Tanjiro smiled at the two and thanked them. They seemed to glow with happiness.
"I wanted to ask if you keep up the total concentration breathing state all of the time."
Tanjiro stopped using the towel and looked at them in slight confusion.
"Do you use the total breathing technique non-stop? Morning, noon, and while you're asleep?"
"Eh, can't say I do." He replied nervously. Am I supposed to do that? Or...?
"I-Is that even possible?" You asked with just as much confusion as him.
"Why yes! We are told that being able to do such a thing makes all the difference in the world!"
Tanjiro's eyes widened nervously as well as yours. "Even using the breathing technique takes a toll on me for such a short amount of time. And they want us to do it around the clock, huh?"
"Some of the others have already mastered it."
"All of the Hashira's including Kanao have too!"
"We believe you both can do it too!"
You smiled at the two and took off the towel on your head. "Is that so? Thank you! We'll give it a try!" You looked up at Tanjiro who smiled back.
"Yeah! We'd love to give it a try!"
┌───͙⊱••✩••̩̩͙⊰•───┐
You took in a long breath with your eyes closed. Trying to attempt total concentration breathing like the girls suggested.
Total concentration breathing. Morning, noon, and night. I said I would try and keep it up around the clock.
Your eyes snapped open as a agonizing pain ruptured throughout your body, causing you to fall to the ground. It wasn't even two seconds later when Tanjiro fell down next to you.
"Nope! I can't do it! This hurts!" You exclaimed. Clutching your hands over yours ears as if trying to reduce the pain.
"If I do it any longer I feel like I'm gonna die!" Tanjiro cried out as he pulled himself up using the deck. His whole body shaking in agony.
"My ears are gonna burst! Wait... did they?!" Tanjiro questioned as he smacked his hands over his ears. You pulled yourself up slowly the same way he did. Gritting your teeth together. That was so scary! You thought.
"For a second there I thought my heart had burst through my ears!"
Gah! Get it together Tanjiro! You can do this! He thought to himself. You both stood in-front of each other again and went back to doing it again.
Breathing is all about the lungs. If I can't grasp it my lungs are too weak. Work at it. It's the only thing I can do. That's how it's always been. Hard work is the sum of daily efforts. It can be one step at a time, just move forward!
"MOVE!" He yelled out to himself.
The three girls peeked around the corner and watched the two of you trying your hardest.
"Look at them go!" "Their working hard aren't they?" "Let's bring them some rice balls."
...
"Blow into these... gourds?" You asked looking up at the three.
"That's right. Lady Kocho trained Kanao, and she would have her blow into gourds like these."
"Wow really?" Tanjiro asked as he bit into the onigiri. He savored the taste like he's never had it before. You took a bite as well. It's savory taste making your taste buds melt with delight.
"That's an interesting technique." You came in. "Do you make a sound or something?"
"Oh no. She made the gourd go all ka-boom."
"Ah!" You smiled. You then froze and looked at the girls.
Ka-boom?
"Wait! This thing? Explode?" Tanjiro took on and hit his knuckles against it. "Something this hard?"
"Yep! And these are special kinds of gourds. So their even harder to break."
A GIRL AS DELICATE AS HER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF SOMETHING LIKE THAT?! You both questioned in astonishment.
"Oh! And did I mention that the gourds get bigger and bigger as you progress? The one Lady Kanao can break right now—"
They then brought in a huge gourd. It was taller then them! "—is this one right here!"
THAT'S HUGE!! I GUESS WE'LL GIVE IT A SHOT!