The next day
A foreboding feeling plagued Shinobu, a sense of dread lying deep in her stomach. The same feeling she had the night before her parents died, almost as if somewhere deep down she expected it. She'd had this feeling many times before and it was mostly able to be ignored leading to nothing. Mostly. Pushing it out of her mind she went out into the butterfly garden ready to begin training with her older (and much stronger) sister.
"Nee-san I'm ready." Shinobu said greeting the oldest butterfly sister.
"Then let's begin."
"I'll go easy on you this time Shinobu."
"Like last time?" Shinobu spoke a deadpan look plastered across her face.
"Just trust me" Kanae reassured as she picked up a wooden training sword, watching as her unconvinced sister did the same.
Their training was simple, essentially a more violent game of tag. One would chase the other with goal of hitting them with one of their breathing techniques, when either the chaser succeeded in landing a hit or 5 minutes had passed then they would switch. Shinobu had decided to be the chaser first at least wanting to get a decent warmup in before being battered by her sister.
And battered is what she was, not even able to win a single round.
"Your improving at least, you almost hit me"
"Almost"
"What's the point in this, even if I do manage to get a hit you wouldn't even feel it. Im not strong enough. I doubt I'd even be able to cut a demons head off."
As pessimistic as she sounded her sister knew that she was probably right. As the taller and stronger one Kanae still struggled to cut off a demons head, and cutting off the head of an upper moon was near enough impossible. What hope did the tiny Shinobu have? They'd both realised it. Shinobu wasn't strong enough to be even a low ranking demon slayer let alone a hashira. As they were wallowing they heard a voice. Faint and nervous, but strangely insistent as though they were desperately in need of something.
"Kocho."
"... Kocho."
".....Kocho!" The man said finally raising his voice above a frustrated whisper.
"Huh, the hell you want!" The younger sister spoke, a vein visible on her forehead.
"The wrapping came loose, I need it retied."
"Seriously Tomioka-san, your a hashira but can't even tighten your own bandages! This is why no one likes you!"
Ignoring her he turned to the older and more reasonable sibling, choosing to just show her his arm instead of repeating himself.
"Ara ara Tomioka, how did this even happen? I told you to only perform light training for another 3 weeks. No matter, come inside and I'll fix it." Kanae spoke in a voice that would make even the most fearful child feel at ease.
"Shinobu I'll be back soon okay?"
"Whatever"
With that the 2 hashira went inside to address the dire emergency that was Tomioka's bandage coming loose. Glad that he was gone Shinobu put down the training sword, opting instead for a small gourd made from clay. Whilst she may not be very strong she did have a great pair of lungs, enhanced massive by her ability to control her breathing. Except when Tomioka was around.
"That loner, I can't stand people like him. Always acting like he's only one who's lost someone!" She thought anger bubbling up at an alarming rate primed to explode if she even thought about him anymore. "Can't even tie a bandage, what a joke. They must just let anyone be a hashira!" Her anger being replaced by an overwhelming feeling of powerlessness, as she realised that she'd never be able to reach the rank she teased this man about. Shinobu was never one to just give up however, and it was usually when she was at her lowest that inspiration would strike. And strike it did. If she couldn't cut off a demons head, then she just had to kill it another way. A way that suited her. Her powerlessness replaced suddenly by what was likely her best idea yet. Poison.
"Shinobu!" Kanae yelled startling her sister out of whatever thought she was lost in.
"Day dreaming about Tomioka, he is kinda cute." Kanae teased, to a now very flustered Shinobu.
"NO, I'd never think of that loner. He's not even worth the space in my head."
" I know how I'm going to become a hashira!" Shinobu said almost levitating from excitement to tell her sister everything.
"Poison. I'll poison them!"
"Huh, how though?"
"I'll use a needle-like sword and hit them with fast thrust attacks. That way I'll be able to inject enough poison to actually kill them." Shinobu said seemingly deep in thought. Trying to think of different how to actually make a poison that could affect a demon.
"Well if your going to do that, you need to be able to stab. Come at me with everything you have." Kanae said picking up a training sword, and handing one to Shinobu.
"Right!"
3 hours later
Both exhausted from the intense training the 2 sisters finally decided that it was time to eat (Aoi actually decided this by preparing them both food) after training for most of the day. They enjoyed a healthy serving of tonkatsu ramen each, and had decided to watch as the sunset. The warm red slowly being devoured by the void as night began to take hold.
"Im proud of you, Shinobu"
"Huh, why? I haven't done anything special today. Normally you scold whenever Tomioka-san is here."
"I will scold you for that tomorrow, your so rude to him. But not now."
"You didn't give up, even though you knew you wouldn't be able to decapitate a demon you didn't let that stop you. It's because of that you were able to start making progress towards becoming a hashira, with your own breathing style as well." Kanae said congratulating her younger sister. She reached over and put her hand on her head looking her in the eyes.
"One day you'll surpass me, because that's the type of person you are. Your tenacious, hard working and you don't even know the meaning of the words give up."
"Nee-san... I don't know what to say. I could never surpass you, your far too strong."
"You will one day Shinobu. Just trust me."
Looking at each other, both struck with the same wonder for each other, the same respect and love. If they could've stayed in this moment forever then neither of them would've hesitated, but happiness is a luxury they can rarely afford.
CAW CAW! FLOWER HASHIRA KOCHO KANAE! HEAD NORTH! MANY YOUNG SLAYERS DEAD!
Breaking eye contact Kanae started to get her sword ready knowing she would have to leave.
"Nee-san... be safe please."
"I will Shinobu, I'll be here when you wake up"
"Just trust me."
YOU ARE READING
Of all the people. Why you? //KNY//
FanficOf all the people in the world, why did it have to be you? Of all the days, why did it have to be today? Of all the demons in the world, why did it have to be him? A short story where I plan on changing a few events and characters. This is the my fi...
