A demon slayer story

Chapter 13: Rise and shine Buttercup

It was night before we got home to Urokodaki's cabin, huffing from the long walk up the mountain.

The cabin door flew open.I expected Urokodaki to come greet us but...no, someone very close to home.
"Nezuko?"Tanjiro said, a confused look spread across his features.
"Nezuko!Its you!you're awake!"He called in excitement, trodding down the small hill we were stood on.Nezuko had also started running towards him when...he fell face down in the dirt.
He tried to get up, Nezuko swooping in and holding his head to her chest.

I smiled at the little family reunion, a few memories of my own family flooding through my guard.Tanjiro had no idea about Nari, Suske or anyone else in my family.I had lead him to believe I was just joining the Corp for the thrill.He didn't need to know, it wasn't going to help him in any way so it wasn't important.Tanjiro waved me over to them, as if to invite me into their hug.I hesitantly accepted, kneeling and holding them both.Nezuko nuzzled up against my chest, a smile spreading on my cheeks.A real smile.Not like those fake smiles I put on when I first starting training, no, a real genuine smile.

Tanjiro was crying a little.I didn't care, I'd cry too if I were in his shoes.I rubbed his back, resting my chin on his head.

As if the hug couldn't get any more wholesome, out of nowhere Urokodaki Sensei wrapped his hand around all of us.Call me strange, but Urokodaki really felt like a father figure to me in that moment.I didn't really know my dad, so it felt good to have a strong role model to take care of us.
I may have been seeing things, but Sensei Urokodaki looked like he was crying beneath his mask as he spoke "you came back alive..."
It was quiet, but you could hear it in his voice.Relief.

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We were taken back to the cabin, fire already blaring as if he was anxious for our arrival.He mostly just congratulated us for our efforts during final selection."Something you should know, there are different kinds of demons.The blood demon art is a special spell that some use  to give them abilities.You may end up having to face some of them in the near future as well.And fighting against supernatural abilities will be more difficult than anything you've done.Still, Tanjiro, Anza, I have no doubt that you'll be just fine"

Me and Tanjiro nodded.It wasn't uncommon that Urokodaki would drop major bombshells all the time.I feel like we should've been told about Blood Demon Art before final selection.But I'm no teacher, I grew up growing my own veggies and flowers.

"It seems like Nezuko's a whole lot different from other demons.Do you think that's because of this bloody art thingy then?"
"No, I think it's something else.I wouldn't call that an example of the blood demon art.This is only a guess, but I believe Nezuko can recover her strength by sleeping, instead of consuming human flesh as other demons do"

I looked at Nezuko for a second before speaking."Don't we all sleep to recover our strength?"
"That may be true, but Demons are much different from humans, it's a wonder she's been able to resist the urge normal demons have to consume humans"
Urokodaki explained and I nodded, picking Atlas up and picking out his loose feathers.Over the years, he's been losing more and more feathers because they've either fallen off or he's bit them off.

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15 Days Later

Wind chimes, what an annoying sound.Is what I'd usually say if I wasn't finally getting my long anticipated Nichirin sword.
Me and Tanjiro were stood at Urokodaki's door, watching a masked man walk up the path with wind chimes attached to his hat.Fantastic.
"Hi there-"
We went to say before he began speaking, rudely interrupting us."My name is Haganezuka, I've forged Tanjiro Kamado and Anza Fumikage's sword.I am here to deliver it"
"Oh!"We bowed."Sorry, We're Tanjiro and Anza.Come in?"We said in sync."This, is a Nichirin sword.I forged it myself."
Yes, you've said that already.
"Uhm...do you want to come in?Have some-"Tanjiro asked once more, pure confusion smeared on his face."the materials for this kind of sword only come from the mountain closest to the sun.Made of scarlet iron sand and scarlet ore, Unique.They produce steel that can produce sunlight"

He blabbered on for a few minutes before getting in our faces, making our backs bent a little.He then went on about how our red hair was 'lucky' to some people.I zoned out quite a bit, just standing there until he shut up.

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So there we were, kneeling with sheathed swords in our hands.I was a little anxious to see what colour it would change, Urokodaki did mention most water breathing users get a blue sword so I wasn't expecting anything too extravagant.The handle was a nice sky blue with white wrapped around it.The hand guard was plain white, in great contrast to Tanjiro's sword which was mainly coloured in blacks and reds.
Haganezuka waved his hands in a sort of wiggle, talking with a slight huff."C'monn, draw it already, Nichirin swords are also referred to as colour changing katanas.Because depending on the bearer, they change colour."he explained.

Me and Tanjiro looked at each other for a moment before unsheathing our awards and holding them up.For a few seconds, nothing happened and we started to think something was wrong.Then, colour started to spread from the hand guard up to the very tip.Tanjiro's sword was a deep black colour, mine was a icy blue.
"Black?!"
"That's interesting"
Haganezuka had a little dust come from his mask, evidently not expecting that.No one mentioned mine, it was seemingly normal.
"Why?!Does turning black mean something bad?Is it unlucky?"
Haganezuka shook wildly, Urokodaki completely chill beside him."No, no, It's just that it's a little unusual.You don't see it often, it's pitch black"Urokodaki assure him.My own eyes were locked on my sword, admiring the craftsmanship.

Haganezuka went on a whole tangent about bright red swords because red hair is lucky and blah, blah, blah.
When I actually looked back, Haganezuka had Tanjiro pinned to the floor."Ah!What the hell let go!"Tanjiro yelped.I tried to pull Tanjiro from his grip, snickering a little.

Our birds flew in, sitting side by side."Tanjiro Kamado"
"Anza Fumikage"
I was absolutely baffled.I had no idea Atlas could talk!
"I bring you orders!You must go to a town north west of here, and hurry!Young girls are disappearing!"Tanjiros crow cried, it's voice shrill and deafening.
"And Anza!You must go to a town down south, babies are being snatched during the night!"
Atlas spoke softly, a little loud but softly and honestly I was still confused how he learned to talk.
Me and Tanjiro nodded.
It's time...