October 29, 2020

Hello everyone! Hello my fabulous readers!

First, I wanted to apologize for having a super duper long unexpected hiatus. :( This entire month has been jam packed with event after event on my schedule. Normal chapter release times will resume quickly!

Second, I know some of us here may or may have not seen the new Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Train Movie. I, sadly, haven't seen it yet as I live in the U.S. BUT if you have seen it or are a manga reader, such as I, I please please ask for no spoilers in the comments for other readers who are anime only.

Third, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 500 READS! I AM SO THANKFUL FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! Even if you're a reader who quickly read through or read one chapter and left, I am still so thankful for your effort and I adore you for even checking in on this fanfiction. THANK YOU SO MUCHHHHH! <3

That is all! Have a wonderful week and Halloween! Stay safe out there everyone!

(Also if you want to talk to me and just plain on talk and cry about the movie and manga don't be afraid to peak into my conversations or add my discord)

cursed

----

"Think about the way you breathe."  My uncle sighed as he waltzed around my shaky stance, his arms behind his back as his eyes were stabbed into my form.

With my sword held in front of me, my fingers blistered as my hands shook from all the training, I was determined to perfect my first attack move on him. We've been doing practice sparring nearly the whole week. Today, I was bound to bring him down, but not kill him of course.

My lungs ached as I heaved them open and closed. My throat yearned for water, almost like I've never tasted it before. I could feel my knees lock and loosen each time I took in a deep breath.  It almost felt like weights were placed on my shoulders as I tried to keep a straight and perfect stance.

Nonetheless, I was exhausted. My eleven year old body was exhausted. Young girls my age were already getting their assigned marriage papers signed, learning about the history of Japan, and probably even painting masterpieces of art. They would be studying hard, probably already learning to write out many characters in Kanji. Not that I'm complaining, but I certainly would love to fall on my knees and rest for a while. 

"Oi, your back needs to be straight as well." I felt my uncle press his palm against my back. "Try taking deep breathes to calm your shakiness. Focus on a mental dot in front of you to keep your balance."

Clenching my teeth as I sipped in slivers of breath, I could see my uncle as he stood in front of me. He had his hands on his hips, his dark green sheath fastened to his waist. He didn't take his sword out, nor stand in his fighting stance.

His darted eyes were staring into mine, waiting for something. An attack perhaps?

"I want you to attack me, but," His sheath suddenly clicked as his fingers hovered around it. And with the wind blowing harshly behind me, his sheath fell right onto the dirt. A small amount of dust was raised as the sheath fell. "I won't be attacking you. Simply dodging."

Dodging? Only dodging? No attacks?

One, I felt that would be unfair.

Two, I also felt that I would lose in a way. My energy was drained to its last straw and one miss, I could fall right on my knees and never stand up again. The winner was quite obvious if you looked at the situation blindly, but for me, I won't be the winner.

No, I shook my head. I can't think like that! I will win and I will beat my uncle! Not intentionally. I just need to follow his orders.

Calming my shaking, I was quickly able to balance myself by loosening my knees and placing my weight on the center of my feet. With my feet facing him, I straightening my back as my head leaned over my shoulders.

I needed to calm down, and focus.

Focus... Focus..

My chest heaved as I gasped in a large breath.

But it was like an immense rush of energy was blown into me as I took that last breath. Every part of my muscle felt like they had exploded with adrenaline and was ready to knock him out. Something new was awakened inside of me. I didn't know yet.

The only thing I knew, was that as I swung my upper body and ran towards him, my sword wavering above me and around me as my arms twisted it all around. I felt a sudden rush of wind rush all around me in fast paces the quicker I twisted my sword all around me. As I was commencing those slashes, I quickly dashed forward with all the strength left in my body.

My knees felt heavy as I tried to lift my feet and my lungs were aching as I skidded my ankles into a full stop. Pounding my leg down and shooting my sword straight down, I was panting like I had ran a million miles around the region.

My uncle was shocked to the ground.

It was a move I've never done before. My uncle was on his back, staring at me with wide eyes as I placed my foot on his chest and my sword to his neck. Sweat was all around his face as dust started to stick to his skin.

"(Y/N)..." he gasped as he started to choke on his own words. "Where did you learn W- I mean... how to... do that?"

----

Oh, I see now.

When things don't work out, just look at it from a different perspective. At least, that's what my father would tell me. As a young child, I used to play with puzzles that were gifts from... I don't know. Maybe my younger brother who gave them to me out of boredum.

Each puzzle was different, putting pieces together, knitting together the cloth, flipping cubes around, or observing a picture. Some we would write down our clues to lead to the next one, slowly building up to the last one.

Though each puzzle was different, each one was the same as they lead up to a prize.

Usually, that prize to look at or to treasure. Something to gasp at as you see all the glorious work you've done as payed off. Perhaps a tool? A candy? 

But, as I was fighting this demon in front of me. As it was lashing its cooling ice nails at me, I solved this puzzle as soon as I stared into its light, pale blue eyes. 

"IT'S FORMER LOWER MOON ONE!" I shouted out as I flipped my legs back and scored a land on the sand, rushing with the shore below me as the cool ocean waves blew into my ankles. It was freezing upon touching, but I couldn't even feel it as I launched myself towards the demon once more.

It's only been a solid month or so since I've seen another demon, but this was Lower Moon One. We had previously defeated Lower Moon One in our mission before, but it seems like Muzan was already hoisting up new recruits to fill the empty positions.

It was probably a few hours after midnight. If I'm lucky, I can hold this demon off until the sun rises. At the same time, I have to watch the villagers. Though, Eiichi has that under control.

While that's going on, I also have another problem with me.

"INOSUKE! BACK UP! YOU'RE GONNA GET-" I gasped as his head darted back to me and he leaned back, barely dodging an attack that was coming his way. "Hit..." I sighed, shaking my head as I ran over to the boar boy.

"Don't worry about me!" He shook his head, pushing me away as he lashed his swords in an X-formation. "I'll kill this demon quickly!"

"You're stupid!" I shook my own head as I shoved him with my elbow. "Notice its attacks, first of all." Scoffing, I pointed at the demon who was trudging towards us ever so slowly. Aiming my sword directly in front of me, so that the demon's body was cut directly in half with my sword in the center of its form, I leaned to my right and bumped into Inosuke, who let out a groaning complaint.

"The demon is about eight to nine feet tall, heavy feet that it has to carry while walking through sand, which slows it down-"

"OKAY? LET'S JUST CUT ITS NECK OFF!"

"NO! It's limps are nearly as slippery and clear as water, even slashing us with water some time with its... weird body parts." I closed one eye as I noticed that the tips of its fingers were glowing an ominous blue. That was the single thing. Making its whole tactics flip into something brand new. "It can freeze itself to harden impacts and punches at us!" I gasped in awe as I turned my brightened eyes towards Inosuke.

"It looks like it can only freeze its limps on command, acting as a shield or... well-"

"MOVE!" Inosuke grabbed my shoulder and dragged me closer to the shore. I could feel the rush of the ocean water explode as it splashed upon my shins. I bit my lip, feeling the freezing water run shivers up my spine.

With the wind harshly slamming against my back, I looked at the boar boy who was holding onto my arm in hopes to catch my balance as the waves rushed into my legs.

A low groan coming from me, I slammed my feet into the wet sand in hopes to stand upright. "LISTEN TO ME!" Grabbing his shoulders and pulling him so we were facing each other, I had a frustrated frown across my face. "The demon's movements are slow." I linked an arm around his shoulder so we were both staring at the demon who was slowly trudging his way towards us.

I could feel his cold body shiver the longer we waded in the ocean. "If I can run along his arm, possibly distracting him, you can come in from behind or below and slice the neck. If that doesn't work, leave it to me and..." I rolled my eyes as I saw him shake his head. I heard him gasp to say something, yet I quickly interrupted him with a shush. "Either way, I'll be a distraction!"

"QUIT DENYING ME!" He loudly shrieked, shaking his head frantically as he tried to wiggle out of my arm. "I CAN DO IT!"

I know how Inosuke loves to have the credit to do the deed of slashing a demon's neck, hence why I ordered him to do so while I run up along its arm. Seems like a simple plan. We have a slow opponent, so this should be done easily.

Additionally, I knew a perfect Water Breathing technique to go against this demon.

Nodding back to him, I kicked off the ocean waters. The demon was already limping itself towards us, almost looking like it was carrying the whole ocean on his back. It had a deformed face as well, melting-like flesh but with a clear sight of the eye reading the Lower Moon One sign.

Its light blue pupil followed my movements as I ran around the demon's legs in circles, my own eyes staring deeply into them as I held my arms behind me. Yet its eyes were tracking me, its body was much too slow to react.

This was an advantage for us, but we had to be careful with each move the demon made. It could predict our moves and smash us right into the sand if we slipped a wrong point.

I was crunching down on some sandy grains in my mouth as I slipped in a steam of air into my lips.

"Water Breathing Third Form:" I lifted up my sword just as I saw the demon lift its fist to pound right on top of me.

At once, I slashed my sword against its-

"Flowing..."

My eyes widened as I saw the tip of my sword crack, a straight diagonal cut forming on the very top of my blade. At once, I also saw the color of my sword fade almost immediately. The dark blue of the metal faded deeper and deeper until it was a faint grey hue like rainy clouds.

It was almost automatic that panic exploded inside of me.

With the demon's fist coming straight for me, I quickly jumped high into the air. I missed its attack by at least a few inches.

Now as I floated up into the sky, the demon's head followed me up as I was wavering looking down at it. Below me, Inosuke was running up the arm of the demon, his swords displayed in front of him.

No, no, no, his swords are going to snap!

My eyes widened as I flipped downwards and landed straight on the platforms of my feet, balancing myself and wandering around for a while until I found my standing point. It was like my blood suddenly pumped like a blockage was finally released in my veins. They were exploding. 

"INOSUKE! DON'T HIT THE DEMON WITH-"

That's until I saw both his swords cut the demon's arm right in half, starting from the shoulder downwards. I could tell he kind of panicked as well, seeing me land down unexpectedly. His eyes trailed to mine as he ran, tripping a tad to the land, to my side.

Hearing him pant from below his mask, he landed a slap right at the top of my head. It was almost like he was pushing the top of my head down as my feet started to slip from the sand.

"STUPID! I WAS ABOUT TO CUT THE DEMON'S HEAD OFF!"

"How- How... how?" I stammered out, my breath coming in shaky and uneven forms. Seeing my breath form misty clouds in the air, I was shaky and worried. Maybe Inosuke could see the panic in my eyes as I raised my slit blade in front of us.

With a lump in my throat forming, I was choked alive as I tried to manage and speak the words stuck in my head. We can't cut the demon. Even as Inosuke used his own swords to cut the demon, I was still struck by my own abilities.

Was I still too weak? After all that training? Was it for nothing?

"Why does your sword look like that?" Inosuke shrugged his shoulders in an exaggerated motion as his head darted back and forward from the demon to me, in quick and shaky movements. "Come on! It still works, right?"

"Well-" My eyes latched onto my sword. My hands were shaking as I tried to keep it still. It was least then half its length at this point. But... as I look at Inosuke's swords, dents and jagged edges that he personally designed, a bit of weight was lifted off my shoulders. If his could still cut the demon, how can mine not?

"WELL WHAT?" Inosuke shrieked in frustration as he stomped his foot on the sand. "COME ON, WEAKLING!"

Even a smile was able to spread on my face in that moment. Looking down at the sand, I could finally see for a bit through the eyes of Inosuke Hashibira. The sword still has its original form. It was just cut in half, but I still have the strength to make it feel like a full ironed sword.

"Hear me out, Inosuke!" I was settling a content look on him, one side of my mouth still pulled into a smile to my ears as I rose up a brow. "Change of plans!"

We dashed backwards, running just a small distance away from the demon, kicking up sand from our heals as we did so. The sun was still down, the full moon rising at the tip of the sky at this moment. Only a few more hours then sunrise would arrive.

"Let's try cutting the limps of the demon first! Since it's main power is water, let's drive it away from the shore but not too close near the village." With my cut sword, I pointed it straight at the struggling demon as it tried to walk over to us. Its movements were unusually slowing down, too.

"I'm sure you can get its legs. I'll jump to get its arms and after you get the legs, aim for the head!" Flashing him a quick smirk, I gave him a closed eye smile. "We can do this! What have we been training for all those times?"

I could hear a hoarse gasp come from the boar headed boy beside me. With my hand ruffling the fur on his mask, we quickly disbanded and disappeared like a flame dying in the rain.

----

With his breath at its breaking point, his legs bound to fall off, and his arms heavy to each swaying movement he made with them, Eiichi was running through the empty roads of the village. He had his katana in his hands, his head twisting in each direction. A gush of pure salty ocean wind blew into his face, causing his eyes to race to that said direction.

That was the ocean.

And he was determined.

All this time, he was training with this sword of his. Ever since (Y/N) saved his family, he was in awe of the Demon Slayer. Watching as she twirled her body like the waters in a mountain stream, the sword even bending with her movements like an entrancing dance. 

He was mesmerized by her soft touch and voice, even as she shouted at him to stand back, he was stuck under her spell. Nothing could even stop him from wanting to give her a hand at her task.

Even if he was a farm boy, barely having any professional experience with the sword, he was slicing and hitting the trees near his home. Even making some dummies of his own with hay, he tried to make perfect cuts with the single swipe of his blade.

He knew he wouldn't have a chance to be on the same level as her, but still, it was worth a try to impress the Demon Slayer.

Did he fall for the Demon Slayer? Oh, head over heels. Ever since he saw her petite figure standing at his door, he was stuck.

Once she left, he was so determined to prove her that he wasn't some farm boy living with his lovesick mother. He wanted to prove himself. He was inspired.

And as his feet started to creep up the sandy shore, he felt a harsh blow of wind slam against his chest.

It was enough to even push his feet back ever so slightly as he rose his arms up to cover his eyes from the flying sand grains. Even if he did that, sand had made its way into his eyes and mouth.

With the crunchy texture in his mouth, his eyes settled onto what had just occurred before him. He knew the demon was right in front of him. He was there to help (Y/N). Give her the help she needed. He was just a farm boy, but he was so much more then that. And he wanted to prove it to the person he cared about the-

Most...

Perhaps he was too late, as he looked down upon the shore of sand. The ocean had calmed, only swaying up and down in small loops and rings of water forming on the sand. There were indents in the sand of steps, jumps, and falls.

There was a young girl and boy. The young boy was sitting up, a girl in his arms. Tightly hugging each other, a soft wind brushing their hair off their shoulders, Eiichi sighed as a simple smile rested on his face.

(Y/N) was on the shore, hugging someone who wasn't him. With her arms tightly around the boy's neck and the boy's arms tightly wrapped around her waist, they weren't going to separate anytime soon. Was he happy? Perhaps he was happy for her. They haven't seen each other in a long time anyway. It was expected for her to find someone else, anyway.

But-

Looking down at his katana, a chuckle left Eiichi's lips. Yet, also a tear fled down his face.

"I'll see you soon, (Y/N)."