Demon-Slaying Demons

~-SABITO AND MAKOMO(3)-~

  A/N: lets get right into this because im gonna procrastinate and i can feel it-- (FUTURE ME HERE AND I PREDICTED THE FUTURE AHAHAH--) also branching off from original plot now but might keep some original dialogue and the main plot points SHOULD stay the same but if they dont then oops lmao

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  As Urokodaki leads the siblings, Nezuko holds Tanjiro's hand. She looks up at her brother, her eyes telling him that Giyu is nearby. Even without his sister informing him, the male oni could tell as well, despite neither of them being able to see the raven-haired male. He nods to her, confirming that he knows, before turning back to the trainer in front of them. The snow crunches under their feet, filling the silent and frost-bitten air with muffled noise as they walk. The snow that falls blows gently as it flutters to the Earth, covering the group's tracks slowly but surely. The borrowed sword at Tanjiro's side sways as he walks, at times brushing against his leg as the siblings look around at the trees.

  Urokodaki stops suddenly, causing Tanjiro and Nezuko to pause and look up at him in confusion. Nezuko raises a hand for the older oni to see, then points at something in front of the trainer in the tengu mask. A large, spherical boulder with a shimenawa wrapped around it, dirt-dusted shide swaying lazily in the winter breeze. The rock stands about a foot taller than Urokodaki, who keeps his back turned to the siblings as he speaks. "If you, Tanjiro, can slice this boulder without the help of your oni abilities, I will allow you both to enter Final Selection." Tanjiro steps forward, turning to look at the man with a look of confusion in his eyes.

  Tanjiro shares a look with Nezuko for a second, then the oni siblings turn back to the rock, shocked and confused. 'Is a boulder...,' The Kamado siblings look at each other again, sharing the same internal question, 'something you can slice with a katana...?' Tanjiro looks back at the boulder with widening eyes, 'I don't think I can do it... My sword will snap!' He grasps the hilt of the weapon with his empty hand, squeezing Nezuko's hand unintentionally as he begins panicking. She looks up at him and squeezes his hand reassuringly, humming in encouragement as though saying "you can do it!" which helps the older brother to relax. Urokodaki turns and begins walking back in the direction they came from, making Tanjiro's head jerk. "U-Urokodaki-san, please wait!" The man keeps walking, making Tanjiro step towards him, "U-Urokodaki-san!!" His voice, which was destroyed all that time ago when he screamed and cried for his family, cracks as he yells. The man, however, doesn't stop walking, so Tanjiro doesn't call out again. (aFTer that urOkodaKI-saN NEVer tAughT ME AnyTHing aGain-- i aint putting that in fjsdhajflksdja) Instead he looks at Nezuko, who appears worried. The siblings are left in the opening with the boulder, and somewhere nearby, hidden in the trees, Giyu is there too, waiting to swoop in if something happens.

Tanjiro sighs, then lets go of Nezuko's hand before clenching his fist and unsheathing his sword, determination burning in his eyes as he stares at the massive rock. Nezuko steps out of the way as her brother swings the blade, yelling out as the sword clangs against the boulder, which sends vibrations through his body and disorients him for a moment. Opening one eye which he didn't know he shut, the oni looks at the blade of the katana, checking if it broke. Realizing the blade hasn't even been scratched, Tanjiro becomes more optimistic as he adjusts his stance and prepares to strike again.

  Meanwhile, Nezuko is wandering around the clearing, staying out of her brother's way as he continues to try cutting the rock. She finds Giyu and waves up at him, receiving the slightest of nods in return. After being acknowledged, Nezuko continues around the clearing, seemingly happier.

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  Every day, Tanjiro repeatedly practices what Urokodaki taught him. Giyu watches from a distance, confused on why this oni boy intrigues him so much. He pulls Nezuko aside one day while Tanjiro does his exercises. She seems curious like any child, the pupils of her eyes being the only true tell that she's an oni. Tanjiro looks less human-like, his eyes glowing a pale pink hue at night and a small horn developing on his head which Giyu had originally assumed was a bump.