* ~ The next day ~ *
The next day passed and you were out in the yard swinging your wooden sword. Going through the same training as Urokodaki had taught you. Tanjiro was very exhausted today and took a small break sitting on the deck as he watched you keep on swinging with no problem. You both had been doing this along with using total concentration breathing at the same time.
You then completed at least two thousand swings. You exhaled loudly and leaned over and breathing for a quick second before running around doing obstacles that were scattered over the yard. You dodged trees, climbed the fences, and leaped over the water.
"You can do it Y/n!" Tanjiro cheered you on pumping a fist in the air. Hearing that made your confidence boost up higher.
A smile grew on his face, She's training so hard. She's doing such a great job! I'm so proud of her!
"Hello." He jumped slightly when he noticed the pink and green haired Hashira come over and sit down next to him.
"O-Oh... hello." he greeted back. The Hashira, Mitsuri, watched you just finish leaping over a large body of water and land onto the ground carefully. You continued to run around.
"She's doing well. Even after everything she's been through, she's been so persistent about coming back and getting better and better everyday. It's admirable."
Tanjiro nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it is. I admire her a lot."
Yes... yes he did. He admired you so much that you were basically his idol. No matter what, you always had a calm demeanor. Calmer than most people. When you were faced with danger, you knew what to do and how to do it.
Mitsuri saw just how focused he was on you. His eyes embedded with love and compassion towards you. She knew that face. She knew how he felt.
Mitsuri grinned towards the boy, "You love her... don't you?"
His head snapped over to look at hers. Eyes widening at the question she had just asked him. His face turned redder than his own hair as he averted his gaze to the ground. He gulped to himself. Has it been that obvious? Does everyone know that? But if she already knows, then there's no point in hiding it.
He shook his head slowly and lightly, Mitsuri noticed his barely noticeable moments. She gasped and grew a toothy smile.
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! I just knew you did!"
"SHHHH!!!" He shushed her quickly. He turned to see if you did anything that put attention to him. But no, you were just doing some more training as if you heard nothing. He turned back around to Mitsuri with anxious eyes, "Don't be so loud!"
She straightened her back and nodded her head. Dragging a hand over her lips as if to seal them with some invisible thread. She was practically jumping up and down in the spot she was sitting. She was so excited.
She clapped her hands together, "I'm so happy for you, Tanjiro Kamado!" He pressed his lips together and squeezed his eyes shut in embarrassment. He hid his face in his hands.
"There's no need to feel embarrassed about being in love, Tanjiro. Everyone falls in love eventually."
"I know."
"So... have you planned to tell her yet?" She asked. He removed his hands away from his face and placed them on his thighs. Rubbing them slowly against the fabric of his pants in nervousness.
"I want to. I really do. I'm just afraid and— I don't know how." He looked down feeling hopeless. Was he supposed to know how to admit his feelings to you? He'd never been in love before. This was new to him. He didn't know what to say or what to do. If his sister weren't a demon, he'd ask her how to admit your feelings to a girl. He didn't want to just come out and say that he loved you. It needed to be special. Something that was utterly unique that meant something. That would be cherish-able to you. For you deserved everything in the world.
"I can help you out. I am the Love Hashira after all." Mitsuri motioned to herself. Tanjiro looked over to see the pink haired woman who smiled.
"It has to be something special." Mitsuri stated as she went into her own world as she curled her index finger and placed it upon her chin in thought. Almost immediately, she gasped and pointed a finger up with a wide smile.
"I've got it!"
Before she could say anything else, her and Tanjiro heard a familiar voice.
"Tanjiro!" You called out. He turned his gaze to see you with a toothy grin and waving over. "You coming?"
"I'll be there in a minute!" He shouted towards a you, you gave a nod of acknowledgment to him. Mitsuri looked over at Tanjiro.
"If you want to after training, we can discuss the idea I have for the two of you. If you agree to it, I'm gonna need you tomorrow morning for it to work. Sound good?"
He beamed brighter than the sun and shook his head vigorously. His heart rate increasing with excitement. He'd never been more excited in his whole life. He was getting help from the Love Hashira. What did he do to deserve this?
He stood up and bowed down to her, "I will be there after training! Thank you so much!" He ran down to you and waved Mitsuri a goodbye. She waved to him while giggling.
Tanjiro Kamado. I can sense just how much you really care for her. Mitsuri thought as she watched the two of you talking. Feeling a grin of her own form onto her face without her even knowing. Your love for her is greater than any other couple I have crossed paths with. Your whole self becomes brighter and happier whenever you are around her. You love her so much that you would risk your own life to save hers. I am happy for you. You both will make an amazing couple.
┌───͙⊱••✩••̩̩͙⊰•───┐
After hours upon hours of training together, Aoi had released the both of you for the day. Hearing that, you both fell onto the ground next to each other onto your backs. Taking in deep breaths. You closed your eyes and listened to your breathing. You could hear the birds chirping happily in the distance. The soft an gentle breeze that flew past the trees casing them to echo a soft rustling noise. You could also hear Tanjiro's breathing next to you.
Opening your eyes, you turned your head to the left and looked to see he was face in the sky. He seemed to notice you looking at him and shifted his line of sight to look into your sparkling (e/c) hues. You both looked into each other's eyes while inhaling and exhaling air. Him watching you breathe easily. He looked at your (h/l) (h/c) locks that spread all throughout the ground. His face already heating up again.
You then began to stand up and turned towards him. You held out a hand to him to which he took gratefully. The sunsets rays casted a glowing effect onto your face. Highlighting every single detail on your face that he loved so much.
"You did good today, Tanjiro." You spoke up, snapping his mind back into reality.
"You did good today too, Y/n." You exhaled a single laugh and looked down at the ground.
"We should rest now."
He was about to agree until he remembered his conversation with the Love Hashira.
"If you want to after training, we can discuss the idea I have for the two of you."
"O-Oh wait. Umm... I have to talk to someone. I promised I would meet them after training."
You raised a brow in confusion and curiosity. "What for?"
He chuckled nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck, "Uhhh... I'm going to talk to one of the Hashira's about training. I'll come back later to see you and Yui. I promise!"
You reluctantly nodded your head back to him and gave him a reassuring grin. "Okay, but you better get back soon mister. Or I could wait for you if you want. I'm gonna work on my breathing. That alright?"
"Yeah thats fine!" He then dashed off towards the large building and waved a goodbye to you. "See you later!"
You waved back to him, "Bye!"
┌───͙⊱••✩••̩̩͙⊰•───┐
After all of the training I've gone through, I have regained most of my stamina. You thought to yourself as you sat upon the ridge pole of the roof outside the mansion. You were practicing your breathing techniques upon the ridge pole. Taking in your breaths and sitting in a meditation position.
Now I can run further than I could before. My lungs are getting stronger as well... this is good.
During the day, I cover a lot of distance and put my lungs into overdrive. And now, I'll take slow and deep breaths. And imagine sending that air all the way to my fingertips.
Meditation boosts concentration... Urokodaki said so himself.
Urokodaki...
"You-hoo! Hello?!"
"Yes?" You snapped your head up and eyes open wide looking forward into the dark night.
"Working hard I see." You turned and jumped in your spot seeing the Insect Hashira so close to your face.
"Even though your friends didn't end up joining you," She said as she backed up and placed her hands upon her lap and grinned. "Aren't you lonely out here all by yourself?"
"No I'm alright. I— I want to master the breathing technique, so I can master it! And then I can help teach it to all of them myself!"
She smiled wider, "You really are a kind soul, aren't you?"
You became flustered and looked away. "Especially that boy you're always around, am I right?" Shinobu asked.
You nodded your head, "Yes. His heart is pure gold."
A moment of silence came about the night air. The crickets creating songs. The small breeze that blew past.
"So... uh— why did you decide to bring all of us here?"
"Nezuko's presence is no longer considered taboo," She continued, "And the four of you had been terribly injured. Mostly you and the boy."
It was quiet once again for at least a minute, until she spoke to you again, "Additionally, if I could, I'd like to entrust a dream of mine to you. And the boy perhaps."
"A dream?" You asked curiously, turning to face the Hashira who looked out into the night sky.
"Yes... that we can befriend the demons. I'm sure you can accomplish that. Not to mention Tanjiro as well, since his sister is a demon after all."
You looked over to turn your head more to face her. She turned slightly to look at you. You didn't know why, but, you got the feeling that you could almost sense how she was feeling. Just looking into her violet colored eyes, you could almost see an open window to the feelings trapped deep inside. But you couldn't understand why.
"Are you— angry?"
A small gasp escaped her lips. Her violet hues growing in size of shock.
"I don't know, but, when I look into your eyes, I can sense some sort of frustration deep inside. Anger. Even though you're always smiling at everyone."
She looked at you for a moment. Bewildered at how you were so good at seemingly reading her soul like a children's book. Like it was so easy for you to figure out how she was feeling.
She turned her head away and looked down towards the ground below her.
"Yes... you are correct... it may be that I am constantly angry. My beloved, older sister was slaughtered by a cold-hearted demon." She closed her eyes and reluctantly continued, "I see the mournful tears of others who have lost someone they cherish in the same way... I heard their loud cries of despair. And each time I do, the more the anger burns inside me. I grows larger. In the innermost depths of my soul, there is a hatred I cannot fight. I'm sure the other Hashira feel something similar."
She looked down as you listened to her speak, "But now, with their own eyes, they've seen a demon who's never had the craving for human blood. They can't deny her existence due to the master's wishes. I— don't believe anyone will raise a hand to Nezuko."
All you could do was stare at her in astonishment and sorrow. She has been through the same thing.
"My sister was a kind-hearted person like you and Tanjiro. She had sympathy for demons. Even when she was on the brink of death that didn't change. I couldn't bring myself to feel that way. To do so for something that's killed countless lives? I'd never heard of such drivel." She continued, feeling a lump beginning to form in her throat.
"But if that is how my sister truly felt, then I must carry it on... if there is a way to not kill these pitiful demons, I have to keep trying to find it. While keeping the smile, that my sister said that she loved."
"Sister!"
"No!"
"Stay with me!!"
"I have to admit," Shinobu lowered her head down again. You had no idea what to say. What were you to say? "I am rather tired. Demons do nothing but lie. They only fight to survive. Murdering us. And they do so without any shred of humanity."
Finishing her last sentence, she stood up as you watched her.
"Y/n... please do all that you can. Protect Nezuko and the ones you love until the end. Knowing that you are working hard to carry out what I could not, it warms my heart. I can rest easy now."
A cool breeze swept past her figure as it swayed her violet tipped bangs. Your own hair following in pursuit of this. She was suffering. But knowing now that she had people to carry out her dream for her, a weight lifted off her shoulders.
"You've stopped your total concentration, Y/n."
You blinked and realized what she said. You shook your head from your thoughts. She chuckled softly before disappearing. You looked down with furrowed eyebrows.
"Focus." You muttered as you closed your eyes. "Total Concentration."
Mother... father... Hiroto... I promise I will help Tanjiro turn Nezuko back into a human!
Your thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice calling down below you. You opened your eyes to see the burgundy haired boy down below and waving his hand up to you. Your face immediately brightened at this and you quickly jumped down back onto the ground.
"Hey Y/n! How's your breathing going?"
"It's going well. What about you?" You asked.
"Excellent! Hey, would you like to hang out with me for the day tomorrow? Just the two of us?" He asked. His face turning pink as he went to rub the back of his neck. You smiled back at him.
"I'd love to! What are we going to do?" You asked as you walked off along with him by your side to the hospital wing.
"Oh, well, i-it's a surprise."
"Oh! Well I love surprises! I can't wait! When are we going?"
"I was thinking around lunch time?"
"Sounds great!." You said to yourself with a grin on your face. But a blush soon covered across your face.
I guess I'm going to be hanging out with Tanjiro after. I wonder what he has planned.