Creation- Demon slayer fanfic

34

I wake up early in the morning and rush to meet Shinobu outside. It's sunny today, meaning that training will be twice as hard. The insect hashira loves to push me and make me suffer, warm weather being the perfect conditions for this.

" We will begin with controlling the spread of your breathing technique," she says, handing me a knife.

We use plain iron knives so that I can heal the cuts later.

" How about we try that new form? The fifth one was it? Considering we re-arranged them."

I nod, letting my blood spill to the ground. Although I can heal the wound, it still leaves a scar. Shinobu stands up a log and backs out of the way. I exhale and aim for the log.

My movements are characterized by a series of crescent shaped attacks. Several of them miss the target and crash into the trees behind the log, cutting them down. Shinobu exhales in annoyance.

" I guess we'll never have a shortage of wood."

I chuckle, even though she meant this as an insult.

" Try again, but this time imagine that there was a person you care about standing next to that log."

I nod and proceed to do the same thing as I had before. The results were practically no different. My nose twitches in frustration and I throw the blade at the log. It melts away seconds after I release my focus.

Without saying a word, Shinobu goes to stand next to the log. Arms crossed, she doesn't reach for her katana.

" Try again," she orders.

" But I'll hit you," I point out.

" You won't, unless you want me to die."

" Well..."

She laughs.

" In all seriousness though, I'm not moving and you aren't going anywhere until you try this."

I roll my eyes and use the new form again. To my surprise, I missed only on the right side and not on the left, which is where Shinobu was standing. I stare in shock, satisfied that I didn't hit her.

" You suck at this," she smiles, closing her eyes.

" It's not as easy as it seems," I retort.

" You focus more on just getting the attack out rather than your stance. You can't let the sword wield you Aku, you must wield it."

" It's a non-living thing, my attacks aren't pursuing the sword."

" I have been a swordsman longer than you, I know what I'm talking about."

The rest of the morning Shinobu was sitting next to the log. The amount of times I missed was cut in half, meaning I only hit two trees on my last try. I'm still not satisfied though, considering those two misses could kill someone I don't want to kill.

I pass by Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke doing push-ups. One girl sits on each of their backs.

" Having fun?" I ask, leaning in tauntingly.

" You're lucky you don't have to do this!" Zenitsu gasps in between words.

" Oh I've done my fair share of strength training. Anyways, have you seen Rei? I could smell her earlier," I question, standing back up.

" She brought oranges for you because she was passing by! Aoi put them in your room!" one girl says.

I nod, disappointed. I was hoping to see her. Traveling back to the room, I open the door and see a basket laying on the ground. Peeling back the cloth that rests on top reveals around a dozen oranges. I take one and toss it up into the air then carefully pull back the peel after I catch it. Putting the whole thing in my mouth, I chew.