DISCLAIMER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA BELONGS TO KOYOHARU GOTOUGE

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Urokodaki-san didn't seem too happy to start training so soon, but Nezuko insisted.

"I failed the first test you gave me, so please give me another chance!"

Urokodaki-san shook his head adamantly, "You need rest, you may not be my student yet but you are still under my roof so just go to sleep even for a little bit!"

Nezuko huffed and walked out the door, Kibutsuji Muzan is a dangerous woman… or man. He was still walking this Earth as they speak and as long as he existed there would always be death! Nezuko could not let anyone see what she had seen, and that surprised her. Because she just ran away from her first demon encounter at the temple, leaving Tanjiro to defend for himself.

Nezuko planted her feet on the solid dirt outside of Urokodaki's door. "I am Kamado Nezuko, my family has been killed by a demon and I can't let him or her live!"

She pointed at her feet, "Right now I'm outside, technically not under your roof, right? So can you allow me to take the test please?"

Nezuko was greeted with silence, Urokodaki's mask stared at her with the same comical frown but she could see Urokodaki's fist clench and unclench.

"I am a weak girl, I ran away from that temple demon because I was scared." She didn't want to have any disagreements but Nezuko cannot live knowing that she is still that weak girl who ran away. "I need to get stronger."

She looked at him, square in the eyes behind that goblin mask, "Please."

That was nearly two years ago, Nezuko flipped through a journal she had kept, the first notebook she wrote one and eight months earlier. Nezuko had written in journals for Tanjiro to read (he was asleep for most of the day) and cringed at her rudeness to Urokodaki-san that night.

Nezuko turned a page: I won the argument that night. Urokodaki-san told me to go down the mountain again. This time I did not go around, the first round of obstacles were the bamboo; but since I already knew it was there, I dodged it. Barely.

Nezuko continued down the page.

I was already breathless, which was not good. Niichan, I'm sure you would've been struggling too. I'm sorry but the traps were really hard! There were even knives that I barely managed to move away from, but one nicked my ear and the other cut off some of my hair. Now it looks like the ends of my hair was hacked off by a crazy baboon.

(Reading this part, Nezuko winced. Not because of her haircut, but how annoying she sounded)

Then I was like: "I think these knives might be useful later on!" So I took one off and I managed to deflect some stones that were flung at me. Maybe those cooking skills paid off? Although… my food never tasted quite as good as yours, Niichan, maybe we can cook something up for Urokodaki-san?

Nezuko blinked. Looking back now it seemed that she had bonded quite well with Urokodaki-san. He was kind of like that grandpa that seems tough but is actually a big softie. Nezuko smiled, perhaps she should make something for him tonight.

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"Nine hundred ninety-six! Nine hundred ninety-seven! Nine hundred ninety-eight! Nine hundred ninety-nine!" Nezuko's arms were jelly but she swung the wooden blade one last time. "One thousand!"

Urokodaki-san grunted, unsatisfied. "Five hundred more!"

Nezuko was so tired at the end of the day, she could barely hold her chopsticks. And each day she saw Tanjiro less and less, he was always either asleep or she was training. And he sleeps for like, twenty hours a day, which did not seem healthy. Plus whenever Tanjiro stayed up for more than five hours, he would be out for two days or more. It did not help Nezuko's moral support.

Nezuko shook her head, if she keeps leaning on Tanjiro like this it won't do anybody good. Right now, she's supposed to be the moral support right now.

Training was hard. Training is always hard but her daily regimen was grueling: wake up and get ready for training before 5:20 AM. Warm up itself was already terrible; 45 squats, 60 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 40 more pushups, 50 sit-ups hanging from a tree, and so much more horrors. After that Urokodaki-san would drill her on how to handle a sword.

"The katana is a thin blade," Urokodaki-san had said to her one day while training. "You need to apply even pressure so the blade does not snap."

He glowered at her, "Because if you break the blade I will break you."

So far Nezuko hadn't gotten any broken bones from the teacher, so she took it as a good job. Even so, she felt as if she wasn't doing enough. So she woke up everyday at 4:00 AM and did laps around the mountain. She would sometimes salvage some traps from the night before and run herself through some drills. At night she would go through the same obstacles, but with extra training in the morning she was slowly getting better.

Niichan, tonight Urokodaki-san made me go through the obstacles with a sword… It really bothers me! It was like a giant stick stuck to my hip and when I tried to run it would either get snagged or I would trip over it. Just when I thought I was getting better at these sorts of things too!

Nezuko chuckled softly, careful not to wake her brother as he slept soundly by the candlelight. He didn't wake up today either... Nezuko fingered her earring, it had been nearly two years ago since Tanjiro had given it to her. He had one on his left earlobe, she had her's on her right. Like siblings, they would always be together. Her family would always be with her, within the folds of her kimono. Her brother's sleeping face was at peace and tranquil, at some nights she felt as if this life was perfect. It was content with her brother and teacher. For her it was enough.

She smoothed down his hair, But there will never be a point where someone can be enough. And until that demon disappears, there is only improving. Nezuko sighed.

But would mine be enough?

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"Nezuko." It was Urokodaki-san.

"Oh, morning," Nezuko yawned, today she had woken up at 3 to try and maximize her training as much as possible. She lowered her sword, "I was actually planning to ask you questions on that form you taught me yesterday. Water Breathing right?"

Urokodaki grunted, he was wearing his usual blue haori today, even though it was a cool autumn morning but he did not seem to be bothered by the cold. Nezuko was bundled in her pink haori and scarf.

"Water Breathing is a sword form, there are ten forms that allow the user to fight demons. But it is not a technique to be rushed through, if it is performed sloppily or—" He stopped: "...Nezuko, my point is, you may be overworking yourself. Not getting enough sleep will only make you weaker."

"But I'm not sleep-deprived—"

Even with the mask on, Nezuko could almost hear Urokodaki-san looking at her disapprovingly.

"But I do go to bed every single night!" Nezuko protested.

"Nezuko, you are by far the most stubborn student I have worked with so far," the elderly took a step forward, fallen leaves crunched soundlessly somehow at his feet. "I don't pretend to know what a sleep deprived person looks like. You have circles under your eyes, your head hardly touches the futon, and you are wobbling on your feet."

Nezuko's vision did seem a little foggy lately, but she decided it was just the forest mist. However, now that Urokodaki mentioned it, a wave of exhaustion washed over her as if her body just let down a dam that was keeping it away.

Urokodaki took her sword hand with surprising gentleness, "For today, rest. What do you want for dinner, sweet potatoes or eryngii mushrooms?"

"Uh…"

He smacked her, "Too slow!"

"Um! I want sweet potatoes!"

Seemingly satisfied, Urokodaki-san grunted at her sword and walked toward his house.

"Um, Urokodaki-san?" Nezuko asked before her teacher before he walked into the hut.

"I can't let go of the handle."

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The new life became routine, training with Urokodaki-san was tiring but he had grown onto her like a very indifferent but soft grandpa.

"Good night, Niichan." Nezuko said before she flopped onto the futon, it's cool, soft folds enveloping her sore muscles like a waterbed.

But Tanjiro shook her, she peeked one eye out to see him shaking his head. You're hurt and covered in dirt, clean up first and then I'll look at your cuts.

"Niichan," she sat up. "I'm supposed to take care of you remember? You're supposed to get plenty of rest!"

Tanjiro patted the sister's head. And Nezuko conceded to his gentle kindness.

"Eat," Urokodaki said after Tanjiro wrapped up the last of her cuts. He had gotten quite good at it, maybe he was taking lessons from Urokodaki-san. Said man was stirring a pot full of good smells. He handed her a bowl and scrutinized her bandages. "Your brother is a very caring boy."

"Yeah," Nezuko agreed, wolfing down the tofu stew. "Niichan never complains and is always hard working." She lowered her chopsticks in thought. "I think I can protect him now."

"This is for your brother, so he can turn back into a human?"

"That and," Nezuko ate a lettuce leaf, "so that other people won't have to suffer as well."

"I can't let other people see what I have seen."

Urokodaki-san seemed thoughtful for a moment, then slowly ladled another spoonful of stew into her bowl. "Do you know what will happen to your brother if he ever eats a human?"

Nezuko stopped, she had actually never thought about that. The tofu stew sat heavily in her stomach. "He won't, I won't let—"

"Your brother would be killed and you will slit your own belly and die!" His voice was harsh and heavy with warning.

The hut was silent. Nezuko tried for a spoonful of soup but it tasted like dust.

She knew Tanjiro wouldn't, he wasn't tempted by her blood and despite him sleeping in a hut full of humans he never showed any signs of bloodlust. And yet… now that Urokodaki-san had said it… what if he was just fighting the desire? Or perhaps it was dormant but alive. Nezuko remembered how Tanjiro would never show a sign of weakness in front of his family, any problem he had he would want to solve it himself. He never wanted to cause trouble...

Urokodaki-san sighed, "I'm sorry, Nezuko." He stirred the nabe pot, watching the ingredients stir, Nezuko felt as if her own emotions were whirling and cooking over a bonfire.

Tanjiro would never eat a human, his will is too strong and heart too kind… and yet… And yet…

What if he does?

Nezuko chided herself for feeling that way, for doubting her brother so kind and sweet. She was indeed a bad person.

Her soup had gone cold.

Urokodaki-san shifted almost uncomfortably, "Nezuko, this is only a theory but..."

Nezuko looked up attentively.

"But I think instead of eating humans, Tanjiro would sleep for nourishment instead."

Nezuko blinked. "R-really?"

Urokodaki-san turned to Nezuko, and she was surprised to hear such notes of affection addressed to her and her brother.

"You two really are something. Do not worry."

That night, Nezuko slept with her brother and a smile.

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It wasn't before long, after two years of training. Urokodaki-san had scheduled their training a little earlier that day. Nezuko stifled a yawn, wondering what her teacher had planned.

He had nothing planned.

Nezuko was caught off guard mid-yawn and for a beat she forgot how to close her mouth. She remembered saying something smart like, "Ha-h? Wh-hwat?"

Urokodaki-san then led her into a clearing she hadn't seen before. Nezuko thought she knew Mount. Sagiri from all those training sessions dodging obstacles at night but the place was something she didn't even know was there.

However, the most alien thing was the giant boulder that sat in the middle of the clearing. A solid mass of stone towering over her like a stone giant she had only heard in stories. Thick twisted twines roped it together in widths as big as Nezuko's leg, talisman and small bells hung on the rope.

Nezuko stated the obvious: "That's a big rock."

Urokodaki-san looked at the rock, Nezuko had thought she could read his gestures quite well for the past few years she had been with him, even with the mask on. But Urokodaki-san had his arms hung by his side, head gazed upwards. Despite the calm appearance, Nezuko felt as if there might be something more turbulent under that mask.

"To officially join the demon slayers, you must survive the Final Selection that takes place in Mount. Fujikasane." He said. "I decide whether you may go to the Selection or not."

"Does it have something to do with this big rock?"

"Slice it in half with the sword." Urokodaki said. "If you do, you may go to the Final Selection."

Huh?

"W-wait!" Cut this big rock? In half? "Urokodaki-san!"

But her teacher was already walking away, "I have nothing left to teach you."

And he completely disappeared into the mist.

Nezuko had wanted to ask Urokodaki-san for some guidance, but she didn't. She didn't know why, maybe it was out of respect. Or maybe she knew that business would now be with her and Big Rock.

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(A/N) Dialogue is something I should work on. For me, I find it hard to keep a conversation going. And then, the story would just end up like a giant monologue/thoughts of the MC. Which would be annoying. So please be patient and review/PM. Thanks and have a nice day :D