Solar Blade

Words of Wisdom

[Name] hadn't returned to the boulder in a while. Instead, they were tending to Nezuko while she slept. Making sure she was comfortable and staying by her. As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting elongated shadows across the forest floor, [Name] sat quietly beside Nezuko, the gentle rise and fall of her chest a comforting rhythm in the stillness. The boulder loomed in their mind, a silent testament to their unfulfilled task, but tonight, its weight felt distant, almost ethereal.

They brushed a soft strand of hair from Nezuko's face, eyes flickering over her peaceful expression. The memories of her human life echoed in their mind—each gentle movement that could put anyone at ease. Yet, as they watched Nezuko sleep, unearthly tranquillity enveloped them, making the allure of that relentless pursuit feel less urgent.

A chill breeze whispered through the trees, bringing with it the faint scent of blossoms and the rustle of leaves. [Name] felt the pull of the boulder, its challenge still lingering in the depths of their spirit, but it was overshadowed by a deeper connection—one that tied them to Nezuko, to her struggles and her dreams.

Tanjiro stood by the shoji door, watching [Name] sit by Nezuko. It had been a while since he had seen them being so nice to Nezuko. When Giyu attacked Nezuko, [Name] had cut their palms open for her. They didn't have the cut anymore, but they still wore those bandages. They were still bloodied and the colour had gone brownish. [Name] always said that those bandages were the reason that they were always so good with their strikes.

"[Name], can you come with me to try to cut your boulder?" Tanjiro asked, folding his arms.

"I'll come later," [Name] responded.

That was their every response, 'I'll come later'. Tanjiro nodded, but when he turned around, his expression was solemn. Yesterday, he had met two swordsmen. They were around his age, and one of them was called Sabito. He was the one who had been wearing the same haori pattern as Giyu's. Sabito had said Tanjiro and [Name] hadn't learned anything right. Now, he was having sparring lessons with Sabito.

Along with Sabito, there was a girl called Makomo. She was a girl of particularly short stature and pale skin. Her eyes were blue and shone in the moonlight. She had long black hair which reached her shoulders and mini bangs. She was the one who was assuring Tanjiro that he and [Name] could slash their rocks. Whenever Tanjiro asked about whether [Name] would actually be successful in slashing it, she always went quiet.

𐙚˙⋆.˚

"Again! Stand up and make up for that weak blow you inflicted!" Sabito's voice rang from behind his mask.

Tanjiro was constantly sparring with him, and he noticed that there were indeed things that Urokodaki hadn't taught him correctly. Why hadn't he allowed him to learn the techniques properly? Did Urokodaki think he was too weak to be a demon slayer? The thought made a vein bulge on his forehead. He pushed against the ground as he swung his sword.

He was doing this for Nezuko. Nezuko was his main driving source. That small, sleeping body was the reason he pushed forward. Urokodaki must know that Tanjiro would always become a demon slayer no matter what. He pushed against Sabito's blade, before thrusting Sabito backwards.

"Not bad. But you're still slow, and you're tired already!" Sabito shouted.

Tanjiro grasped his neck. He was dehydrated and exhausted. These sessions made him put his all into it. [Name] was probably cut out for these sessions with Sabito. He couldn't imagine how quickly they could slice off one of Sabito's limbs, even if it were a wooden blade. Tanjiro grasped his sword, his hands trembling. Sabito knelt to him.

"Good job today. But find a way to expend less stamina and become faster," Sabito spoke, before disappearing.

After the session, Makomo would always show up. Tanjiro watched as she sat on the boulder, placing an ornate flower crown on her head. She was strange, yet he found that sweet and innocent about her. Tanjiro's hair had grown longer since the first session. It was probably as long as Makomo's hair now. Makomo smiled softly as she saw Tanjiro.

"Hello, Tanjiro. Did you have a good sparring session?" she asked, her voice soft and filled with genuine curiosity.

"Of course. Every session builds up to something bigger," Tanjiro answered, the corners of his mouth lifting as he sank beside the rock, exhaustion mingling with excitement.

"Something... bigger?" Makomo echoed, tilting her head. The moonlight caught in her hair, casting a warm glow around her, making Tanjiro feel a sense of comfort that reminded him of home.

"Passing Final Selection. Becoming a Demon Slayer," Tanjiro reiterated, the weight of his aspirations evident in his tone. He could feel the determination burning in his chest, pushing him forward.

"Ah, right. That is your goal after all," she said, her eyes sparkling with encouragement. "You've come so far already. Tell me, how is your sibling doing?"

"Oh, Nezuko's well," Tanjiro said, a fond smile appearing at the mention of his sister. "She still hasn't woken up from her long slumber, but I think that might be a demon thi—"

"Not her. The... other one," Makomo interjected gently, her expression shifting to one of concern.

Tanjiro's heart sank at the mention of [Name]. The memories of their laughter, their shared dreams, weighed heavily on him. "Oh... [Name]," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "They're... they're doing their best. It's just been hard for all of us since... you know."

Makomo nodded, her gaze softening. "I understand. It's not easy to carry the grief of those we love. But remember, Tanjiro, hope can guide us even in the darkest times. You have a light within you, just like you do for your siblings."

"He looked at her, feeling a surge of gratitude. "Thank you, Makomo. Your words always help lift my spirits. I want to protect them... to keep them safe."

'"The strongest warriors are those who hold their loved ones close in their hearts. Trust in your strength, and in the bonds you share," she encouraged, her voice a soothing balm to his worried soul.

Tanjiro took a deep breath, feeling a flicker of warmth amidst the uncertainty. "I'll keep fighting, for them... for all of us." He smiled, a determination rekindled, the weight of his family's love fueling his resolve.

A/N

Helloooo! Thanks for reading this chapter. I was actually meant to add more to this chapter and then I went. Nah. This is Tanjiro's chapter. So Imma give [Name] a massive fat chapter. Also, I feel like my chapters are getting shorter. It's probably intentional because I've got a lot of tests and exams going on and submitting 2 chapters a day is getting quite impossible. If chapters get shorter, I'll make up for them somehow!

Taisho Era Secret: Ever since [Name]'s blade suddenly went cold, they've begun to hate warm weather.