Third Person:
Nezuko followed Urokodaki back to his mountain. She was impressed by his speed. Especially since he seemed like an old man.
Once they arrived Nezuko was out of breath. Urokodaki put Tanjiro down. He was peacefully asleep.
Urokodaki: I promise I'll take care of him while you work.
Nezuko: Thank you.
Nezuko and Urokodaki travel up the mountain. Then they stop.
Urokodaki: Your task is to make it back down the mountain. You must before sunrise.
The fog blows by and blows and Urokodaki goes away. Nezuko gasps and looks a bit confused.
That's the test, she thinks.
Nezuko thinks that Urokodaki figured she might get lost because of the fog.
All I have to do is get back by daybreak, right? No problem! I memorized the way back.
Nezuko runs back down when her foot runs into a string. She almost trips and stops running. She looks around confused. When she turns to look in front of her, she gets hit by a rock.
Rocks?
Suddenly Nezuko's body slides down and falls into a tiger pit. She breathes heavily and looks up.
A tiger pit... of course. This mountain is filled with traps. That's the real test.
Nezuko puts her hand on another string. She quickly gets up. Her back gets hit by a rock. She falls and lands on dirt.
Nezuko realizes that if she doesn't stop walking into traps, she'll never make it down the mountain by morning. She also realizes that the air is really thin.
Nezuko begins to run down the mountain. She calms down so she isn't breathing rapidly. She needs to figure out how to avoid all of the traps. She uses her instincts and makes her way down, dodging the traps. She does get hit by some however.
I'm gonna make it back no matter what! For Tanjiro!
Urokodaki pulls a blanket over Tanjiro's body. He looks out the window, then the door and sees Nezuko open it. She's covered in dirt, and has blood on her forehead and right shoulder.
Nezuko: I... have... returned...
Nezuko passes out near the door.
Forgive my abruptness, Lord Sakonji Urokodaki. I'm sending a girl your way who wants to become a Demon Slayer swordswoman. She was fearless enough to attack me unarmed. Her family was slaughtered by a demon, and the surviving older brother has become one, but I have determined that he will not attack humans. I can sense something different about these two. Like yourself, the girl has really good instincts. Perhaps, she'll find a way to break through and become your heir apparent. I'm asking you to train her.! I realize that this is a self-serving request, but please forgive me. I hope that you will take good care of yourself in your endeavors. Yours truly... Tsutako Tomioka.
Urokodaki stares at her.
Urokodaki: You're now my new student, Nezuko Kamado.
Nezuko's training begins. She runs down a mountain. Urokodaki explains how Nezuko must survive final selection in order to become a demon slayer. He also explains how Urokodaki will decide if he can go or not.
Everyday, Nezuko runs down at the mountain. She avoids the traps. She trains with the sword. And writes a journal for Tanjiro who has been sleeping all the time. He hasn't woken up. But that's what keeps her motivated. She sometimes trains with Urokodaki. But he's ridiculously strong. Everyday, she would learn new ways to train. She learned total concentration breathing and water forms. She was even kicked into a waterfall.
Nezuko: I'm doing this for Tanjiroooooooooo!
Nezuko: Tanjiro! I am water!
Tanjiro's been asleep for six months. A doctor even came to look at him, but he couldn't find anything. Nezuko has always wondered why he's still sleeping. Her training continues. It gets harder everyday.
Urokodaki: That's it. I've taught you all I can.
It's been a year since Nezuko's training started.
Urokodaki: The rest is all up to you. You have to prove your capable of advancing to the next level. Come with me!
Urokodaki and Nezuko walk to a giant boulder.
Urokodaki: If you can cut this boulder in two, I'll allow you to enter the Final Selection.
Is a boulder, even possible? Can a sword cut through that? I don't think so, my sword will break!
Nezuko: Urokodaki, hang on a second! Urokodaki!
After that day, Urokodaki never taught me anything again.
Nezuko stands in front of the boulder and glares at it. She attempts to cut the rock but it fails. Nezuko is relieved that her sword didn't break.
Ever since then, Nezuko has been practicing what she learned. Then she would try to cut the boulder. She did this every single day.
Six months have passed. Nezuko still couldn't cut through the rock. Nezuko continued to retrain herself.
Nezuko starts kicking the rock frustrated.
Nezuko: Ugh! C'mon Nezuko! You can do it! Ugh!
?: Silence.
Nezuko looks up and sees a masked girl sitting on the rock.
?: It's unseemly to whine, so knock it off.
The girl has black hair, and a white fox mask on.
Who's this girl? What's with the mask?
?: A demon slayer bears her suffering in silence... isn't that what you want to be? Then start acting like it.
The girl jumps up. They kick Nezuko and make her fall back.
?: You're slow. Weak. Immature. That's not what I call a demon slayer.
Nezuko: What do you think you're doing?
?: Trying to figure out what you think you're doing.
Nezuko: What do you mean? I'm training.
?: How long do you plan to keep sitting on your butt, without taking a fighting stance?
Nezuko quickly gets up.
?: Come at me. Give me your best shot.
Nezuko: But your sword's made of wood, I could hurt you.
The girl starts laughing. Nezuko stares at her confused.
?: Well thoughtful of you. I appreciate your concern about me. But do you honestly think you're capable of giving me a scratch?
The girl jumps at Nezuko. Nezuko uses her sword to hold the masked girl's back.
?: There's nothing to worry about! I'm far more powerful than you... I've already cut through my boulder.
So it is possible!
The girl jumps up. She bounces off a tree behind Nezuko. Nezuko quickly sees her and uses her sword to defend herself. The girl starts jumping everywhere around her. The girl jumps right next to her and knocks her down.
?: You obviously haven't learned anything. You haven't mastered any of your training! Especially not the total concentration breathing... Didn't Urokodaki teach you?
She knows Urokodaki? Who is she?
Nezuko lifts her head up and looks at the girl.
?: All you've done in your training is memorize the information. Your body has no clue what it needs to do. What the hell have you been up to for the past year and a half?
Nezuko uses her sword to block the girl's.
?: All of it has to be hammered into your flesh!
The two end up sparing with the girl repeating "more."
?: You'll have to make sure you never forget any of the secrets Urokodaki taught you! Pound it into the narrow of your bones!
Nezuko: I'm trying! I'm giving all I got everyday! Except, I'm not getting anywhere! I can't... I don't think I can do it!
?: You can! Toughen up! If you want to be a demon slayer, there's nowhere else to go but foward! Give it your all! Show me what you're capable of!
The girl hits her wooden stick on Nezuko's chin. This causes her to knock down and fall unconscious.
Another person steps behind her, also wearing a fox mask.
?: I'm leaving the rest to you.
The person behind her nods and smiles.
Nezuko opens her eyes and sees a boy with peach hair, lavender eyes and a fox mask stare at her.
??: Are you alright?
Nezuko sits up and talks to him.
Nezuko: Please tell me you saw that? The way that girl hit me! Her swing didn't use an ounce of power! It was just beautiful! I wanna be able to do that! You think, is that possible?
??: I'm positive it is. Because I'll be there to look after you.
The boy smiles and Nezuko blushes.
He's cute.
Nezuko: I'm sorry, who are you?
The boy tells her his name is Sabito and the name of the girl was Makomo. Sabito pointed out Nezuko's defects. He corrected her movements and bad habits.
Nezuko asked her why she was doing that and where she came from, she didn't say anything.
Sabito: Makomo and I, we both love Urokodaki very much.
She said that a lot. He and Makomo weren't siblings. They were orphans raised by Urokodaki.
Nezuko trained and went beyond her limit everyday. Despite this, she was always beaten by Makomo. Well, until six months later.
Nezuko challenged her again, but this time she held a real sword.
Makomo: It took you six months, but you look like you finally belong.
Nezuko: This is the day I win!
They begin.
Nezuko swings her sword and slices Makomo's mask. Nezuko was surprised to see her face.
Makomo has turquoise eyes and black hair. She gave Nezuko a sad and friendly smile. She was relieved.
Sabito: Nezuko...
Nezuko turns to face Sabito.
Sabito: You did just great. Never forget about this. Keep winning for me Nezuko.
Sabito fades away. Nezuko looks in front of her and sees that Makomo is gone. She thought she had cut through his mask but...
She sliced the boulder.
To be continued...
読んでくれてありがとう! 💙