𝒟𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓂𝑒? [[Inosuke Hashibira x (fem) reader]] (complete)

𝟛𝟞

[[altered some aspects of the hashira training to avoid any spoilers! No worries guys]]

You stand atop a precarious cliff facing a set of obstacles before you. You expected that the training for the final battle would be harsh, but nothing could've prepared you for this

Ahead, lies a pathway of thin columns towering 12 feet above rushing water

The goal is to be able to cross the water without fail

On the other side, Giyuu stands with his arms crossed. He's looking over you and the other trainees with distaste

"Prove to me," Giyuu yells over the water "that none of you will end up getting mauled without a fight."

You step carefully onto one of the columns, holding your chin up to avoid looking down

"After all, in a battle as serious as this, clumsiness is unforgivable. You must do this right."

Behind you, most people were reluctant, and since they separated you from your friends during this training period, you had no one to turn to for reassurance but yourself

I can do this...just a bit further

You think to yourself as you hop from post to post. Giyuu watches on in mild approval

"So you have been keeping your skills sharp? Impressive" he comments when you reach the end

Upon getting to the other side, your knees felt weak from the pressure and anxiety. You collapse at his feet, clinging to the ground like you might fall at any second

"Yeah...I-just barely" you reply between breaths

"FINALLY! Ready to train with me now?!" Mitsuri runs in, lifting you up off the ground

"I need a minute—" you whine

"CMON LETS GO" Mitsuri yells over you, running to her place with you on her back

The rest of the week went on like this. Constant training without any breaks in between, pushing you and everybody else to the very limit. This is nothing like anything you've endured in the past

Some types of training were easier than others for you. Tests of wit and cunning were your strong suit, as opposed to tests of strength, which often require you to move some kind of heavy object.

 You've not been able to accomplish those without retrying four or five times.

The strenuous work left you nearly unable to walk at the end of every day. Shinobu has to keep kicking you out of the bathhouse because you would often find yourself falling asleep there, causing the other visitors a good deal of worry

But you kept pushing onward, remembering those who are counting on you. Everyone you've met, those you've saved, you have to prove that you can save them again.

Tonight, you are to celebrate the success of your training with the others. It's been a long week and you finally get to rest

You took an extra long bath in the bathhouse today, and Shinobu surprisingly left you alone. Everyone is just glad to have a break

On your walk back to the estate, you run into zenitsu, who seems to be thinking really hard about something

"Zenitsu! Long time no see" you gasp "how are you?"

the blonde looks at you with teary eyes and rushes to hug you, catching you by surprise

"Wha--are you okay-" 

"WAAAAAHHHH!! I DON'T WANNA GO INTO BATTLE I'M SCARED" Zenitsu wails, clinging to you like a child

You reach around to pat his back awkwardly "aw, there there.."

"WE'RE GONNA DIEEEE!! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE" Zenitsu cried, his voice muffled from being shoved into you

"No,"

you grab him by the shoulders and force him to look at you, and he wipes his eyes

"We won't die. We've trained for nearly a year now. We can do this" you say

"YES WE WILL--" Zenitsu starts, but you backhand him across the face

"PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER ZENITSU." You raise your voice to a yell "we ARE going to live. Okay? We are. I mean it."

His lip quivered, but he nodded 

"I have to go now, but I'll see you again on the battlefield. Okay?" You give him a stern look

He nods again and you step away, looking at him over your shoulder

"You...you're a really scary person now," Zenitsu says 

Your expression softens into one of sadness 

"I don't want to be." You reply "but when I picture a life without demons, it pushes me to do better. I know that we can all be better, no matter what happened to us before."

Zenitsu falls silent for a moment

"Good luck out there. We're going to need it" You smile before turning to walk away, wiping some tears of your own

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I've been watching too much AOT and it shows XD DONT WORRY GUYS! THE END OF THIS FANFIC IS COMING JUST AROUND THE CORNERR SO KEEP ON GOING