Hanabi {KNY/Demon Slayer x Reader} ʚ🍓ɞ

V

Our bad guys we kinda forgot but.. um here's your very belated chapter. Also if it seems like the tense has changed,   no it hasn't. You're reading things wrong. It's been like this the entire time. 

     After Urokodaki saw y/n's potential, he started training them, and as expected, the training was brutal and lengthy. After an extensive 9 months of strength training and preparing for a breathing style, Y/n surpassed Urokodaki's expectations and was almost on par with Tanjiro's skill level.

     Tanjiro, who was already finished with his strength training and was working on his breathing technique, feels a competitive urge to stay ahead of Y/n and is working harder than ever to master Water Breathing. As Tanjiro finishes his final test against a boulder, Y/n starts their breathing technique training.

     Y/n, finishing yet another day of breathing training and making minimal progress, returns inside the cabin they and their companions share. Urokodaki and Tanjiro are sitting inside facing one another, discussing the details of Tanjiro's trip to the Final Selection. The opening of the shoji* the front door switches their attention from the topic at hand to the disheveled Y/n trekking in.

     The cooking food in a pot draws the young person's attention as they inhale the simmering, nutritious food. Urokodaki watches the person intently as they seem more disappointed than usual, "So, did you make any progress today?" The disappointment on the disheveled person's face became more prominent as the question was asked. Their head lowered as they slowly shook it.

     Their mentor hummed, flipping through theories about why his perfected training wasn't working for Y/n. Saving the thoughts for a later time, he and Tanjiro then return to their previous conversation and Urokodaki mentally prepares Tanjiro for the many adversities. When their conversation ends, Urokodaki stands to portion out the meal between the three of them.

     When everyone's bowl has been filled, Urokodaki fills his own and joins the other two to sit around the kotatsu*. It settles on Urokodaki and Y/n that this could be the last dinner they share with Tanjiro. Final Selection is an unpredictable and dangerous exam that is especially worrisome for Urokodaki as this test has claimed many of his previous students.

     Following their hearty meal, all three retired to their respective rooms with Tanjiro documenting his and Y/n's progress so far for Nezuko to read later. Y/n curled into the comfort of their futon and quickly succumbed to sleep. The two teens wake to the smell of breakfast and do their morning routines.

     Y/n is already sitting behind their plate of food when Tanjiro finally leaves their shared room. The three eat rather slowly, savoring the presence of each other and the deliciously prepared food. When they all finish, they wash their dishes and put them away.

     Urokodaki requests to speak with Tanjiro before he leaves. Tanjiro sits in seiza*, waiting for Urokodaki to pull out what he needs from the cabinets before him. Urokodaki turns to face Tanjiro, now holding a sky-blue haori with scattered cloud designs. 

     On top of the wonderfully crafted fabric was a mask, similar to the mask the boy in the woods wore. Urokodaki sets the garments in front of himself as Tanjiro busies himself with cutting his hair short. As he tamed the mess of his thick, burgundy hair with shears, tufts of hair fell around him.

     Urokodaki, still not facing Tanjiro, speaks to him about the strength demons possess. "Remember this. A demon is as strong as the number of humans he's devoured."

     "So, the more they eat, the stronger they get?" Tanjiro returns. "That's right. There are demons who grow stronger, transform themselves, and even gain strange powers," Urokodaki continues while standing up, his body half-turned to Tanjiro.

     Urokodaki then talks about Tanjiro's prodigious sense of smell, "When your sense of smell becomes keener, you'll be able to tell how many humans a demon's consumed." Urokodaki walks over to Tanjiro and hands him the protection mask.

     Tanjiro gives Urokodaki a questioning look while Y/n studies the mask from their place nearby. They decided to listen in on the conversation because when they finished their training, they would take the same test.

     "It's called a "warding mask." I've charged it with a spell to protect you from harm," Urokodaki explains what the mask is and how it's supposed to help.

     "Warding mask..." Tanjiro and Y/n repeat under their breaths, both studying the mask intently. After Tanjiro has a hold of the mask, Urokodaki then gifts him the cloudy haori. After the exchange, Y/n promptly left for sleep, Tanjiro and Urokodaki following suit.

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     When Tanjiro wakes the air is still foggy; he ties his haori with a black string to keep it secure. When his haori is secured, he then goes to check on his comatose sister. In doing so, he wakes up Y/n, who sits up rubbing the sleep from their eyes.

     They bring their arms above their head, groaning as they stretch their fatigued figure. "Oh! I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Tanjiro slightly jumped when he saw the now awake person watching him and his sister.

     "Yeah, but I probably should've been getting up anyway. Good luck on Final Selection by the way. I hope you don't die," The young person tries to subtly joke.

     Tanjiro thanked them for their concerns before walking out, meeting Urokodaki in the front room. He was preparing a filling breakfast for Tanjiro's long trek, and Y/n joined them as breakfast was served. Everyone eats at a normal pace to ensure that Tanjiro can arrive at Final Selection on time.

     After their breakfast, Tanjiro and Urokodaki head outside to chat before Tanjiro leaves. Y/n goes back to their room and changes into their gi* and grabs their bokken* for their breathing training. Y/n wasn't going to worry over Tanjiro, they will simply wish him the best and will continue to train for when it's their time to participate in the final selection.

     Y/n brushes past Urokodaki and Tanjiro talking and they give Tanjiro one last wave before they start their training. They begin with their usual total concentration breathing exercises, then move on to their sword swings, and after that, run a few laps around the cabin as a warm-up before their main training.

     After finishing their warm-up, they stretch out their limbs before commencing their breathing techniques. They recite the steps on how to do the first move, Water Surface Slash. The move isn't all that complicated, the user sends out a single horizontal slash to decapitate their victim. After being sure of the steps, they continuously attempt the form.

     They kept at it for hours, trying any form of water breathing that they could complete, following the instructions from Urokodaki for each form. Y/n held the sword above their head, took a deep breath in, and with a fast and steady movement, swung the sword down.

     A whoosh emitted from the pristine bokken and as usual, Y/n felt no difference. They eventually retire to the cabin, disappointed with themselves again. Their head hung low throughout the silent dinner, and they retreated to their room upon finishing it, dragging their feet along the wooden floors. 

     They flumped onto their futon, wrapping themselves in their blanket and quickly drifting away into a comforting slumber. The comfort didn't last long as their subconscious remained restless on their unmoving progress. Reproaching themselves, even in their dreams.

                                                                               **VOCAB**

Shogi door – a sliding exterior partition door coated in strong, transparent white paper with a latticework timber frame.

Kotatsu – a low-lying wooden table covered by a heavy blanket called a futon.

Seiza – a traditional way of sitting with one's legs tucked underneath their thighs.

Gi – a traditional uniform worn by students during training sessions, it includes a jacket, pants, and usually a belt that indicates the practitioner's rank.

Bokken – a Japanese wooden sword used for training in kenjutsu. It's usually the size and shape of a katana. 

Story Words ~~ 1222

Total Words ~~ 1333