𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒 ★ 𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐈𝐑𝐎 𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐎

𝐃𝐎𝐍'𝐓 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐔𝐏!

"𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈, 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈,"

"𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐈𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬"- poster boy, Lyn Lapid

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𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌, boy, were they wrong. Urokodaki only trained and worked them harder, almost never giving them breaks from instruction anymore. But they didn't complain, for their goal was to get stronger and better each and everyday.

After training and the sun was still out shining its rays onto the two friends, Aiko kept her promise to Tanjiro and taught him moves and different techniques from her martial arts. She noticed the genuine joy and excitement in the burgundy hair boy's eyes whenever he would try something that she demonstrated for him, and it warmed her heart deeply for seeing such enthusiasm in him.

For today's lesson, Aiko and Tanjiro learned about breathing techniques and fighting forms from Urokodaki, including Total Concentration Breathing. 

"Total Concentration Breathing?"

Tanjiro asked with curiosity gleaming in his dark red eyes. "That's right. And I'm going to teach you two all ten of the Water Breathing forms." Urokodaki glanced at the two of them, his mask boring into their souls. The older man crossed his arms.

"Remember to take a long breath, so the oxygen flows into every single cell in your body." He stated, "This will enhance your body's natural healing power, and stabilize and energize your spirit." Tanjiro and Aiko nodded with determination shone in their eyes.

"Relax your upper body, but also while bracing your lower half." Urokodaki finished. "All right, breathe!" The two friends inhaled through their mouth and exhaled their breath, only for Urokodaki to strike in the teenagers' stomachs, making them wheeze.

"Wrong!" He exclaimed as he stood back up again from hitting the two's solar plexus'. Tanjiro and Aiko held their stomachs in pain.

Oh, man...This is going to take awhile...

As the days and hours of training went on, the two found themselves improving significantly. Aiko also took a notice of Tanjiro's change in endurance and speed, making her smile and feel joyous inside. And it seemed when the months passed by, Nezuko still had no sign of waking up, and it worried Tanjiro deeply. 

Remembering the advice Aiko had gave him, he did exactly what she told him to do. Tanjiro told Nezuko about his day, stories, sang her favorite lullabies, and his improvement throughout training. Everyday, the burgundy hair boy would be terrified that he would see his sister not wake up one morning, and it made him anxious just thinking about it.

And about Aiko's and Tanjiro's relationship? Yeah, they're pretty much the bestest of friends, now. They bonded so naturally that whenever they would see each other, their lips would tug into smiles instantly. Aiko didn't know if it was just because they had lived in the same house together, or they constantly trained and talked with each other, but...Every time they would, her heart and chest would feel warm, and she knew deep down in her heart that he'll always be by her side, no matter what.

Tanjiro felt the same way about Aiko. He felt as if it came natural to start a conversation with her, and they would talk for days if they could. Every night, Aiko would go into Tanjiro's room and chat with him for hours, almost all night. The two teenagers found enjoyment talking to each other, literally just babbling about anything they could think about brought them immense joy.