Kimetsu no Yaiba: Song of Time

Chapter 5 - Wisteria

I realized I had dozed off after an hour of sleep. Giyū wasn't nestled next to me but instead keeping watch. "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Huh?" Giyū glanced back at me then chuckled. "I felt like you would kill me if I woke you. You looked so calm. Maybe if you slept in the last 6 days-"

I glared at him. "Today's the last day, right?" I said cautiously. Giyū still burst into tears anytime I mentioned Sabito, indirect or direct. Giyū looked away from me. "It's odd we'll go home without... without him..." he said softly. I walked over to him and wiped some dirt from his face. 

"Should we head on early?" I asked.

"Right you are," he said, nodding. 

*      *      *

By the time we reached the wisteria clearing, everyone else was there. I saw the snow-haired boy from earlier and a tall black-haired girl wearing two butterfly hairpins. There was also a short nervous-looking young girl with blue eyes and pale brown hair, standing next to a boy with similar features. 

The tall black-haired girl glanced at me and Giyū and walked over to us. "Hi! I'm Kocho, Kanae Kocho," she said in a friendly manner, "Are you two siblings?" 

I felt Giyū stiffen next to me, and I shook my head, laughing. "Yeah, do you think I'd ever look as lonely as him?" I joked, and Giyū cuffed the back of my head. I apologized.

Kanae smiled warmly. "I hope we all become fellow Hashira one day. Boy, I really want to become one..." she trailed off, lost in a memory. Her humming was interrupted by the two identical girls who had been talking before. 

"Congratulations on passing the Final Selection," they chimed, and Giyū nudged me with his elbow. "Yeah, congrats, Aimi!" he whispered. The snow-haired boy narrowed his eyes at us.

"You will choose an ore from here, which has been collected from Mt. Yoko. They constantly absorb sunlight and will be the only way to defeat a demon. Next to us are your Demon Slayer uniforms, and you will collect them after choosing your ore. We also will provide Kasugai crows," the black-haired girl said, as a flock of dark crows flapped our way. A sleek, shiny crow appeared on my shoulder, while Giyū's crow was shuddering with fatigue. 

"Why do I get the crappy one?" he whimpered as the white-haired girl started talking. "Choose your ore for your sword." I hushed Giyū and walked over to the table. All of them looked the same -- goldish and like a rock and lumpy. Kanae walked over, next to me, and looked down at the table, still humming. She smiled and picked up the smallest one. 

I glanced at her as she walked away. Giyū looked baffled. Alright, Aimi, close your eyes and pick, I thought. I closed my eyes and heard Giyū laugh softly. I moved my hand around and randomly picked one. When I opened my eyes, I saw it was medium-sized, yet light. Giyū did the same and I rolled my eyes. 

As we journeyed back to Urokodaki-san's home, I felt strange. "Giyū," I whispered, "I feel like we left something behind."

He didn't look at me. "You know what it is," he said quietly. Sabito. Our best friend. I looked away. We stayed silent for the whole journey back. "Bags not telling him," Giyū said, as we could see the shape of Urokodaki-san chopping wood. 

"I don't think we have to," I whispered, as he looked up. Even without seeing his face, I knew he was surprised. He knew. Urokodaki-san gave a curt nod, and went inside, beckoning us to follow. I glanced at Giyū and he buried his face in his hands. 

I tugged on his arm, and had to drag him into the hut. Urokodaki had his back to the door. "So... Sabito's... gone?" he asked. 

"Yes," I said hoarsely.

"You'll stay here until your swords are finished."

As I slipped into my futon, I readied myself for multiple sleepless nights.