Burn to ash

The obligation of the strong

Already it's been 4 month and he beats me as if I know nothing. He is a violent old man but I know, there is a reason. He is relentless in his training but after that first day killing demons, I understand why he must be harsh. We can't act like weak ducklings forever. Ever so often, we train as a group but more so than not, Shishou focuses on us, one by one and before long, I'd learned all 6 forms. Perhaps because I had already learn to breath properly and my body was already made but I was easily able to pick up on everything our teacher taught.
Today, we are working as a group, practicing the movements for the forms. Kaigaku is well concentrated on his own but he is clearly irritated at how loud and annoying Zenitsu is being. He screams that he can not. He screams that he's in pain. He cries when Shishou scolds him. WE are unable to move on until Zenitsu finishes.
" Shishou, perhaps I will help Zenitsu further. It seems Kaigaku is ready to go on. None of us will be able to move on if we are waiting on a single person." I explain calmly and again the young body cries but Shishou sigh, knowing full well that he can not focus sole on the youngest.
" Zenitsu! Listen to Houzuki!. She knows well." He walks off towards other boy as I take his place beside the young one. He shrinks back away from me, having realized a few days ago that I am not a simple village girl that Shishou picked up. I begin teaching him from the beginning, asking again and again if he understands, which he replies to as he does. He tries again and again to no success but he tries again and again nonetheless, so long as I don't let him run.
" Perhaps, you are not understanding something." I sigh, just about ready to give up but he cries, grabbing hold of my sleeve begging for me to not give up on him. I sigh once again but hear footsteps behind us. " Why do you try so hard. He's useless, talentless. He's just taking up space and wasting sensei's time." Kaigaku growls unlike the quiet boy who I thought he was but before I can retort a remark, he continues. " I don't know where you came from and I don't know what Sensei told you but I'm the one going to become the next thunder hashira. you can act like your better than us, you can act all high a bad mighty but you'll be nothing in the end." Perhaps he is trying to threaten me, or show that he is stronger but when he growls and I draw my blade instantly, letting it settle against his throat before he can get even a word out.
" How dare you speak like such. It is the obligation of the strong to protect the weak. It is the obligation of the knowledgeable, to guide the clueless. Never mind me, how dare you speak to your brother disciple in such a way. There is no place within the Hashira for a boy like you." Having made my point, I go to retract my sword but he draws his blade instead, locking us in.
" Houzuki! Kaigaku!" We hear shishou yelling as us as he hurries to stop us. I push on our blades to shove the boy away. He angrily beats our head in with the end of his cane. Zenitsu watches afraid of us, and of our sensei. " Kaigaku, go down to the village and fetch some fish for dinner. Zenitsu, go back to the house." He angrily orders while practically glaring at me. They do as their todo, one of them smirking, assuming that I will be in trouble.
" I'd assume, you would act better being raise by Shinjuro." He scolds me but still pats my back. " There is a final selection taking place tomorrow night. I believe you're ready. You came to me already trained. I simple polished an already forged sword and taught you how to use it." He pats my shoulder and starts leading me towards the house.
" Shishou, what about Kaigaku. he has been training with you far longer than I and he seems much more skilled that I." I ask simply out of curiosity but he shakes him head. " That boy. He might be skilled with a sword but his mind is still poisoned. It will still take time before he is ready." He shakes his head once more as we finally make it back to the house and there he instructs me to start preparing to leave. Kaigaku returned and spots me packing. He snickers possibly assuming the worst for me but I ignore him as Zenitsu scrambles towards me.
" Houzuki-chan are you really leaving?" He asks with tears in his eyes and I can only nod. I give his a smile speak just loud enough for him to hear. " I leave for the final selection in the morning." I tell him and he squeals in fear. Before we can go on with our conversation, Shishou serves us some food, filling my plate full of food.
" Eat and fill you belly Houzuki. You will need the energy." He orders and I nod, taking a bite of the food. Eating together like this, reminds me of when mother was alive. We'd eat every night the four of us and when father was home, the five of us. We'd talk loudly, about everything we possibly could until other would scold us. But father would laugh and continue on anyways. Here, the table is silent, except the occasion skirmish between Shishou and Zenitsu. Shishou truly cares for Zenitsu, it reminds me of how father used to train Kyojuro. Tough love but only when it came to training.

I fell asleep before everyone else, but when I woke the next morning, before even the sun had risen to her throne in the sky, Shishou was already awake, sharpening his prized sword, his nichirintou. It gleamed a simple silver with a mustard yellow hilt. It was worn but i could tell that it will be reliable. He stood at the door with a small pouch and the sword. I stepped up beside him.
" Houzuki. I am lending you my blade. You must bring it back to me in 7 days time. you will come back as an official demon slayer." He didn't give me room for discussion but all I can do is agree with him. I kneel to the ground and bow my head.
" I will return as a demon slayer. I will make you proud Shishou." I state once before standing and begging to walk away but before I can get too far I hear his yell.

" Houzuki ! Don't you dare die."