The next morning in the butterfly mansion
Tanjiro’s Pov
“TANJIROOOOOOO HELP ME!” I woke up to Zenitsu's annoying whining. I sat up and stretched. “What’s going on?” I asked, doing my best to not get up and strangle Zenitsu. “INOSUKE! I THINK HE’S DEAD! HE ISN’T MOVING OR SCREAMING!” Zenitsu screamed. How are his vocal cords still working?
I got up and took a second to make my bed look presentable. “Don’t worry, he is probably just asleep.” I said walking over to Inosuke. I sat next to him and took his boar head off. I knew it. He’s just asleep. I just stood up and put his boar head on his bedside table. “See Zenitsu… He is just asleep.” I said, with my signature fake smile.
The door slide open, with a loud *BAM* when it hit the wall. The person who opened the door was a short girl, with blue eyes, black hair in pigtails, two butterfly clips, a demon slayer uniform, and a white dress over it.
“WHY ARE YOU YELLING?! I HAVE OTHER PATIENTS HERE!” She yelled. “I’m sorry ma’am. He was just worried about our friend.” I apologized. “*Sigh* Just keep it down in here!” She exclaimed. “Yes ma’am.” Zenitsu and I said. “Yellow hair, take your medicine, and red hair, wake up your friend. You two will be starting your rehabilitation training after breakfast.” She said. “Yes ma’am.” I said. She walked away and closed the door.
I turned to Zenitsu. “Take your medicine, I’ll wake up Inosuke.” I said, turning back to Inosuke. “But it’s gross~” Zenitsu whined. You have got to be kidding me. I looked back at him and smiled. “Don’t worry Zenitsu, it’ll only take a few seconds and will make you feel better.” I said, giving him the brightest smile I could muster. “Ok.” Zenitsu whined then walked over to his bed, with his head down.
How have I not strangled him yet? I turned back to Inosuke and started shaking him awake. He shot up and tried to scream, forgetting he couldn’t because of the damage. He then jumped up and acting like an angry child. No, scratch that, more like a wild animal. I wonder how I haven’t tried to kill either of them yet.
“Good morning Inosuke.” I said. He just kept on trying to scream. I give up.
At breakfast
A
oi’s Pov
The three new nuisances finally got down to breakfast, well the boar kid the the yellow hair kid are but the red hair one is fine. “Hello ms.Aoi.” The red-haired kid said. “Good morning. There is Okayu, you can each take a bowl and go sit down.” I said. “Thank you miss.” He said. “What are your names?” I asked, as they each grabbed a bowl. “My name is Tanjiro, the one with the boar head is Inosuke, and the one with the yellow hair is Zenitsu.” Tanjiro answered.
“Well, you and Inosuke have rehabilitation training after breakfast, and Ms.Shinobu would like to speak with you afterwards.” I told him, as his friends sat down. “That is the insect hashira, correct?” He asked. I nodded in response. He smiled at me. “Thank you, I’ll make sure to do that.” He thanked me, then went to his friends. I think he almost blinded me.
About an hour later at the rehabilitation place
Aoi’s POV
Rehabilitation is about to start. Kanao, Kiyo, Sumi, Naho, and I are waiting for Tanjiro and Inosuke to arrive. I heard Kanoa flipping her coin and turned to her. “One of them is the boy ms.Shinobu said to watch, correct?” She asked. “Yes.” I answered.
“Why are we supposed to be watching one?” Sumi asked. “She didn’t fully explain it to me, but what she did explain was, he mastered a breathing style that hasn’t been used for four hundred years, so she wants to know how strong he is.” I explained.
“Which one?” Kiyo asked. “The person we are watching is the red head with the flame mark on his face, and the breathing style is moon breathing.” I answered.
The door opened and I turned to see Tanjiro and Inosuke walking in. “Hello ms.Aoi.” Tanjiro greeted. “Hello Tanjiro and Inosuke. Meet Kanao, Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho. They will be assisting in the rehabilitation program.” I introduced.
“Hello there, it’s nice to meet you.” Tanjiro said. “You too.” Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho said. Inosuke looked like he was trying to say something but of course, couldn’t. I am not looking forward to when he gets his voice back.
“How this will work is three challenges. First, you will be stretched on the mats so your body’s are ready. Second, you either tap or avoid Kanao. Third, you have to splash your opponent. You can stop your opponent from splashing you by putting your hand on that cup. Any questions?” I explained. No one said anything.
“Hello Aoi.” I heard ms.Shinobu say. I turned to her voice. “Hello ms.Shinobu. What are you doing here?” I asked. “I wanted to see what you have to work with.” She said, I think she was trying to say she wants to see how strong Tanjiro is, without raising suspicions.
“Ok. Tanjiro, you will be stretched first.” I said, pointing to one of the mats. He, Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho walked to the mat and they started to stretch his limbs.
A few mins later
S
hinobu’s POV
After the damage Tanjiro caused on Mt.natagumo I’m interested in how strong he is and how fast his reflexes are. “Tanjiro, your goal is to tag Kanao before all the sand falls to the bottom. Begin!” Aoi exclaimed, flipping the hour glass over.
Tanjiro went for Kanao, who quickly jumped away, but before she could get even half a meter away, Tanjiro grabbed her wrist. Aoi, kanao, and I were shocked but neither Kanao nor I showed it.
“Ara ara~ that’s the fastest anyone has catched Kanao.” I said. Tanjiro let go and turned to me. “Really?” Tanjiro asked, a look of confusion on his fast. I nodded in response.
“Ok, now you two can do the next challenge.” Aoi said. Kanao and Tanjiro nodded and went to the cups full of medical water, and sat down. “Begin!” Aoi exclaimed.
Before Kanao could move she was covered in medical water. “I’m so sorry!” Tanjiro eagerly apologized. “That’s what you were supposed to do.” Aoi said. “Do this challenge a few more times. Ms.Shinobu, would you like to speak with him afterwards?” Aoi asked. “Yes.” I replied.
10 mins later in shinobu’s lab
S
hinobu’s POV
He beat Kanao everytime. He seems to have hashira level training, but how? I found out who trained him so I sent a letter yesterday and received a reply this morning. Apparently Kuwajima only trained him for a year, and when Tanjiro arrived he had already mastered moon breathing and most of thunder breathing. He said that all he did was help him fully master thunder breathing. Everything else he already knew.
“Ohayo Ms.shinobu.” Tanjiro said, as he entered. “Ohayo Tanjiro, sit down.” I said, gesturing to the seats. He walked over and we both sat down.
“So Tanjiro. Can you tell me about moon breathing and how you learned it?” I asked.
“Sure.” He said, with a huge smile. “My family used to tell me about demons and demon slayers. My father taught me moon breathing, and we had a book about all the breathing styles, so I also learned thunder breathing.” He explained. So he comes from a slayer family. “Were either of your parents demon slayers?” I asked. “I don't think so.” He answered.
“Now, tell me about moon breathing.” I instructed. “Well, it’s very dangerous, very deadly, and very powerful. In fact, my katana doesn’t allow me to use it to its full potential. It’s perfect for thunder breathing but not moon breathing.” He said.
“Why is that?” I asked. “Oh, the blade needs to be able to extend. Without that feature I can’t use the eighth form. It also makes all the other forms harder because it’s a bit too short.” He explained. Very interesting. The sword smith should have known the blade length he needed.
“So do you not use it?” I asked. “I can still use moon breathing, and can still kill multiple demons with one attack. I’m just not as strong as I would be if I had a slightly longer blade.” He explained.
Wait… Did he say?
“Wait… can you repeat that?” I asked. “I can still use moon breathing?”He asked. “No after that.” I said. “I’m not as strong as I would be if I had a longer blade?” He asked. “No, right in the middle.” I said. “Oh, I can still kill multiple demons with one attack?” He asked. “Yes.” I said.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked. “Most moon breathing forms are both long distance and have multiple strikes that go quite far.” He explained. “That's Impressive. Would you mind showing me?” I asked. “Not at all, but I would need a big open space, to avoid damage.” he answered.
“Ok. You will show me tomorrow. You may leave and rest now.” I said. He got up and bowed. “Sayonara Ms.Shinobu.” He said, then left. Sweet kid.
I should tell the master and the others about this. Maybe I should invite them to see how strong moon breathing is.
Outside the lab
T
anjiro's POV
Of course I didn't tell her everything about moon breathing. I even made her think I'm weaker due to a shorter blade.
Everything is going according to plan