⊱ ❅Clouded Judgement ❅⊰ | ❆ - • A Demon Slayer Story • - ❆

Chapter 4.

It was another cold winter day, and I woke up early to roll up an oversized snowball. However as I was making my way to the door, Kamiya stopped me.

"Noriyuki, we need to have a talk."

To my surprise, Kiseki was already sitting infront of him and patted the spot on the floor next to him, suggesting I would sit by his side. What was going on? Why were both of them in such a bad mood on a normally happy cold winter day?
So I did as I was told, and Kamiya started talking.

"Unfortunately, this is where our time together as a family comes to an end, along with our time as teacher and apprentices. I'm old, my time is running out, and you two have nothing else to learn from me.. other than one, crucial part of your training:
Breathing Techniques. Using my status as a retired slayer, I already ensured that nichirin blades should be on their way here. You will pick your breathing technique based on the colour it will turn into. Noriyuki, don't worry, we'll tell you what colour it turns into. You two are quick learners, so after three months of mastering whatever breathing technique you've been assigned, you will leave this place and head towards the final selection. I can only teach two breathing techniques, but I still have close contacts with other experienced slayers. Any questions?"

I was heartbroken, it felt as if my entire world just collapsed under my feet. Us? Leave Kamiya already? We knew the day would come, but it still came as a shock to us. How could we possibly do anything without him?
Kamiya started aggressively coughing into his hand. The foul stench of blood filled the room again, and that's when I found out:
Cancer. Lung cancer. That's what he meant when he said his time was running out. That's why our relationship, our bond and time together ended so soon.

Soon after, the nichirin blades arrived. We grabbed them and waited for a reaction, but my mind was somewhere else entirely. Where? I'm not sure.

"..Noriyuki.. your blade, it's.. plain white?"

Sure, why not. I couldn't have cared less in all honesty.

"Interesting.. Kiseki, your blade turned green, so you'll be learning wind breathing with me. Noriyuki.. you'll have to develop your own breathing style. I recommend learning wind breathing with Kiseki, you'll manage from then on. Is that good with you two?"

"Sure." I answered, having nothing else to contribute.

After months of learning from Kiseki since his master 'wouldn't teach the impaired', I eventually had it down. The day of our goodbye came surprisingly soon, and we would get no words of praise towards our hard work.

"Kiseki, Noriyuki.. please, take care. And don't forget, you do not want an innocent humans blood on your hands, got it? It'll make you just as much of a demon as Kaito." He told us, wiping off the blood from his hand he just coughed up.

It's odd, why is 'blood on your hands' such a big deal as an expression? You also get blood on your hands by cleaning a wound, no? And even if it means killing a person, I knew for a fact that blood would get all over the rest of your body aswell. Your face, your clothes, the stone brick you would be holding..

We hugged each other one last time, tearing up and sobbing.

"Oh come on now, you'll visit me, right?" Kamiya asked us in a teary and doubtful voice. Not even he believed that would possibly happen, with his time running out the way it was. But atleast all three of us had a little bit of faith we might meet again one day, one day on a cold winter.

And with that little bit of faith on us, we left him and headed towards the final selection area the crow was leading us to.