The ole' wise always say that children can always find the right people in the mist of danger. And panic. And pain. Of course, everyone believed they were just things old people said, but for a certain group of four, they'd come to believe this trut...
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"Tousan! This is too hard!" Tsukiko whined at the harsh training, only to get whacked with that big weird stick Uzui had. At least she thought it was weird, she whined.
"C'mon! I didn't raise ya to give up! Keep goin'!" He encouraged with his smirk, if she passed the Final Selection, he would make her his Tsuguko, so she'd have to get used to it and she knew it.
She got up and started running the mountain pathway again, this time faster than before, using her Rufescent breathing to breathe properly, along with Total Concentration. She was only 9 at this time, but trained hard.
It took her a bit to get to the top of the mountain that Uzui was already at, "Better than your last, good job. You're improving!"
"Are you sure...? It doesn't feel like I am..." She panted, leaning her hands on her knees.
He nodded, "You've improved a ton, trust me. Now, time to spar!"
=
'If I pass... I'm Sound Hashira's Tsuguko,' She reminded herself in her head, tugging at the soft fabric of her new Haori. Her mother's had given her it before she left, she would make sure not to rip it.
She walked up the stairs, once at the top, she saw several other people in hopes of being slayers. She understood more than half of them wouldn't be seen by the end of it, Uzui made sure she did.
"A shame," She mumbled, "What's a shame, Tsuki?" A familiar soft but quiet voice asked from behind her, she turned and slightly smiled seeing her long time friend Kanao, "Ah, I see you just got here. Long trip?"
Kanao shook her head, "No ma'am, it's pretty nice out today so it didn't feel to long at least."
Tsukiko nodded, "Same here."
Kanao's eyes seemed to sparkle as she looked down at Tsukiko's Haori, "Did they just give you that?"
"Yes, this morning. I must cherise it," She clutched the sleeve, Kanao nodded in agreement, "Yes."
They waited for the Selection to start in a comfortable silence. The two had been friends since Kanae and Shinobu introduced the two after Tsukiko was named and had fully adapted to life, grammar, and other people.
They became close like, she was one of the only people Kanao didn't need her coin to choose if she wanted to talk to her or not.
"You may... begin..." One of the twins announced after they had explained the rules, Tsukiko gave a little wave to them and they snuck one back as well with little smiles.
She ran off into the forest. Running for a bit before a demon jumped out at her, she only had a nichirin sword but Uzui made sure she could at least use it with that thanks to Rengoku who taught her how to hold it and whatnot.
"Refescent Slice," She mumbled, beheading the demon with one swift jump and swing of her sword. Refescent Slice required her to be behind the demon, jump from the front to the back, and swiftly cut the demon's head off, this method made her faster. Not that she wasn't already.
