I want to give a huge THANK YOU to anyone who is reading this story! You have no idea how much it means to me!!
You made it to chapter 3~ Feel free to point out any errors I may have overlooked. Here's another update, enjoy :D
— the author
~~~~~
Previously...
Tomorrow would be another day of arduous training, she would need a lot of rest.
__________
The months passed. Everyday, you and Tanjiro descended the mountain, swung the sword, practiced the basics like holding your breath and flexibility. Urokodaki-sensei also taught both of you to do total concentration breathing. Having watched the anime, you knew about total concentration breathing: constant, and practiced on your own.
When time came that Urokodaki-sensei started teaching you and Tanjiro the ten forms of water breathing, you struggled a lot.
UGHHHH! Tanjiro's getting ahead of me, isn't he? You were frustrated after another failed attempt at the first form.
Then, a thought lit up your mind: What if this is simply because you weren't compatible with water breathing? Was it because you aren't from this world? Perhaps you had to try other styles...
You steadied your total concentration breathing, and tried the first form: water surface slash again. But this time, you let inspiration carry you, and your sword moved in a slightly different fashion than what Urokodaki-sensei had taught you. Instead of water, ice concentrated on your sword, you released an attack that sent powerful slashes in many directions.
"D-did I just create my own breathing style...?!" You exclaimed.
The next few days, you worked to create a rough outline of what you called Breath of Winter, creating both offensive and defensive moves. you practiced the seven forms you had created, perfecting the form and eliminating unnecessary movements, making it powerful and efficient.
...
(These are the forms of the Breath of Winter, I came across it online and thought it was really cool, so I decided to incorporate this in my story. I did not create the Breath of Winter and I do not take credit for this wonderful idea!!)
🌨 •≫────≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫────≪• 🌨
╔═══━━━─── 🌨 ───━━━═══╗
≫ ━─ Breath of 'Winter' ─━ ≪
This breathing style is practically the breath of water but it has a much harsher edge to it, instead of being loosely flowing like the breath of water this breathing style has much more crisp techniques that almost seem akin to the breath of wind.
╌────═ 🌨 ═────╌
This breathing style is derived from the breath of water with certain elements from the breath of wind to add on to the techniques.
──═ 🌨 ═──
≫ ━─ First Form: 'Rapid Frostbite' ─━ ≪
The practitioner dashes forward and as they move they rapidly gather momentum before unleashing a barrage of high powered slashes in every direction, like a blizzard ravaging the area.
──═ 🌨 ═──
≫ ━─ Second Form: 'White Blanket' ─━ ≪
The practitioner sends themselves forward with immense speed before unleashing one devastating horizontal slash that should decimate anything foolish enough to get caught in it's path, this motion being followed by a immediate downwards slash.
──═ 🌨 ═──
≫ ━─ Third Form: 'Avalanche's Wrath' ─━ ≪
In this form the practitioner leaps forward, sending themselves over and past their target before immediately spinning around with their weapon outwards to slice through their target.
──═ 🌨 ═──
≫ ━─ Fourth Form: 'Raining Blizzard' ─━ ≪
Generally this form is used after the practitioner is thrown into the air, and in this form the practitioner begins to slash underneath them before immediately beginning to spin while slashing at the same time as they fall to the ground, a cyclone of death the practitioner at the center of it all.
──═ 🌨 ═──
≫ ━─ Fifth Form: 'Mountainous Storm' ─━ ≪
The practitioner raises their weapon into the air before unleashing multiple slashes as they blade descends, almost as if the storm of slashes is traveling downwards with the weapon itself.
──═ 🌨 ═──
≫ ━─ Sixth Form: 'Endless Snowfall' ─━ ≪
Being another downwards assaults, the practitioner starts with their blade having already been in the air or after bringing it into the air the practitioner will harshly slash downwards before unleashing a series or high powered and short slashes at the last point of contact on the target.
──═ 🌨 ═──
≫ ━─ Seventh Form: 'Frost' ─━ ≪
In this form the practitioner launches past their opponent before using their weapon to leave shallow and minor cuts to give the false sense of security to enemies but after doing this the practitioner will immediately shift their style of attack and enter a state of complete and utter focus due to breathing rhythms, while in this state the practitioner experiences time somewhat differently. Actions are slowed and their own nerves are calmed, but while they are in this state the practitioner will begin to unleash high powered and deep cutting slashes upon their opponent while constantly circling them.
╌────═ 🌨 ═────╌...
After months of training with Urokodaki-sensei, he had taught Tanjiro and you everything you needed to know.
"I have nothing more to teach you. The rest is up to you! Whether or not you can improve to the next level." Urokodaki-sensei said to you two, "Come with me."
He's going to show us the boulder we need to slice in order to participate in Final Selection, and then we would meet Sabito and Makomo. You recalled from the anime.
Urokodaki-sensei first show Tanjiro his boulder, then lead you to another boulder of the same size a little ways from Tanjiro's. Then came another six months of grinding... You practiced your forms, descended the mountain, swung your sword, and complete basic exercises everyday, but you weren't able to slice the boulder. You could occasionally hear Tanjiro yelling in frustration from another part of the forest.
Suddenly, you heard a sigh that sounded... disappointed? You must have spun around at the speed of light. You saw a young man with spiky, peach-colored hair and a fox mask.
"ITS FOX BOI! So you finally decided to show up and come help me! Where's best girl Makomo??" You exclaimed.
"...What?" Was the response you got.
"Also, good job wearing a mask and following COVID protocols!!"
"..."
You knew what you said made no sense in the Taisho Era, it was just fun to confuse people.
Sabito helped you train, pointing out my defects, correcting unnecessary movements and habits in my form.
Makomo came sometimes too.
"There are other children besides us, they're always watching you, Y/n!"
"STALKER!!" You laughed.
"... Huh?"
"Nevermind, heh."
You worked on your total concentration breathing. You were able to maintain it longer and longer, 10 minutes, 29 minutes, an hour... You spent all day and all night practicing. After five grueling months, you were able to master Total Concentration Breathing: Constant. Tanjiro would learn it later at the butterfly mansion, but for now, you were ahead of the game! HAH!
...
Next morning, you got up and changed into clothes for another day of training. You wore a red and black haori with a fox mask embroidered on it, over a black tank top you made for yourself out of some cloth you got at the market. You put on a pair of hakama pants that matched well with your haori, then pulled your h/c hair into a bun.
"Today is the day I win..." You mumbled what Tanjiro had said before he sliced the boulder. It had been five months since Sabito had started training you, and for the first time you felt confident you could beat him.
You walked to the clearing you had completed months of hellish training at. You remembered how everyday you finished training with Sabito during the day, and went home to keep grueling through the night.
As you approached Sabito's ghost, you saw that he was carrying a real sword today.
"FIGHT ME!!!! FIGHT ME!!!", You waved your sword.
You just felt like being an Inosuke today, got a problem??
You got into your fighting stances, and when the fight started, you jumped back onto a tree trunk and kicked off the tree with immense speed, launching yourself at Sabito while raising your sword, imagining Tanjiro's awesome ass-kicking moment when he had sliced Sabito's mask(which was basically also the boulder, dunno how that works). Your unleashed a slash, and in seconds it was over. Sabito gave you a smile.
"I DID IT!!" You dropped your sword shot your hands in the air.
Sabito moved to the side and showed the sliced boulder. He did not fade into thin air like he did after Tanjiro's fight for some reason, maybe because he still needs to stay and help Tanjiro, who has not sliced the boulder yet?
"BRO SIX FEET APART IF YOUR NOT WEARING A MASK." You shout, referring to Sabito's now broken fox mask.
"..." Sabito learned to ignore your random comments by now.
Makomo appeared behind him, "Good job Y/n-chan!"
"Thanks! I'm sure Tanjiro will slice his boulder soon too! One of us will definitely defeat that morphed hand demon this time!!"
The two children smiled.
...
In the anime, Tanjiro sliced the boulder after six months of tutoring from Makomo, which is still a month away. But perhaps he got desperate after learning that you had sliced your boulder, and was able to beat Sabito the day after.
You and Tanjiro kept training in preparation for the upcoming Final Selection.
Time passed quickly, you found yourself packing for the trip to Mount Fujikasane, where the exam will be held. You threw a few onigris and the mask Urokodaki-sensei had made for you into a bag, which you secured over your shoulder.
"Today's the day."
__________
Looks like you'll be heading to Final Selection!!
See you in the next chapter~
— the author