Training
The sun already rose up and Tanjiro was now outside doing push-ups. Behind him was his mentor who had a shinai in his hand. The man would hit his legs and shoulders whenever they bend or be misplaced.
Okay, Tanjiro knew how to do this simple exercise, but when a large rock is behind your back. That would be hard despite how strong his brute strength is.
"This will strengthen your strength and endurance." He stated, "A demon slayer must be strong enough to cut the demon's head off and endure their hard blows."
Tanjiro only nodded, as he struggled to push his whole body up before bringing it down. His already close to the number given to him—"Hah!" He shouted in relief when he finished a half of a thousand push ups. He quickly pushed off the boulder before rolling away and laying on the dirt.
Harsh pants escaped his mouth and Tanjiro felt the strain in his arms. He had been doing this kind of training for two weeks now to build up his strength, stamina and endurance. First he had to wake up before the sun rises and when he's up. Urokodaki-san would made him run five laps around the base of the large mountain. Then, after running he would make him swing a katana and those swings needs to be a thousands. After that he would made him do some basic exercises like crunches, squats, push-ups and sit-ups.
But those basic exercises means two sets and a hundred reps.
Anyway, it was thanks to his large stamina and strength. He made it, barely, trough the weeks...
Until he added weights.
Back in the present, Tanjiro's breathing finally slowed. His red eyes watched the clouds rolling by with cranes flying in it. A small smile went up towards his face at the peacefulness he is feeling.
He heard the sounds of sandals stepping on the dirt and a shadow loomed over him. His mentor begun talking, "I saw how you used your hatchet as a weapon whenever you went trough the traps." He said and Tanjiro hummed in response. Quite tired to move a little bit, "So if you pass the exam. I'll tell the blacksmith to make you two new hatchets with the blades being nichirin blades." Tanjiro heard his mentor say and he perked up at that.
The man wasn't finished talking since he begins on a full out discussion, "In slaying demons, breath styles are important to use." He started and Tanjiro sat up when his energies a little bit, "Demons have blood arts, a power that they can use as their advantage. Then, there's their inhuman strength and senses." Urokodaki-san added, "With breath styles, we demon slayers can keep up with them."
He then pointed a finger to the sun, "There are different breath styles, but all of them originated from Sun breathing. A person can create their own breath style, but I'm gonna teach you the breath style that I already know." Urokodaki-san then beckoned Tanjiro to follow him and they reached a cliffside with a waterfall besides it. Something tells the boy that he'll be regretting something later.
"The Water Breathing is one of the most common breathing style used by demon slayers." He explained while Tanjiro looked over the cliff, finding the scenary beautiful. "The Water Breathing combat and breathing style mimics water, specifically the flow, flexibility and adaptability of the liquid and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques and abilities. Most, if not all, known techniques involve the user bending their body, arm and weapon in a flowing motion."
Tanjiro nodded, remembering all the information given to him about Water breathing.
"When utilized properly, the user visualizes themselves manipulating and generating water in a varying shades of blue with white wavy patterns akin to waves resembling water found in classical Japanese paintings, causing water to seemingly emanate from their weapon, surroundings or themselves." Urokodaki-san finished his lesson and Tanjiro find it quite admirable that the old man gave a long explanation in one breath.
However, he didn't expected his next words. "To master water breathing, one must be one with the water." He then said in a cheerful tone, "So good luck."
He yelped in surprise when the old man kicked his back and Tanjiro finds himself falling to the water below.
"Wahhhh!" He screamed and the water hit his back, thus creating a large splash.
"..."
A year had passed since Tanjiro's first arrival at Mt. Sagiri.
In all that time, he has done nothing but train in order to survive the Final Selection or real life. Around two months after being kicked off a cliff, he had become much stronger and was able to avoid the traps with relative ease while also sniffing them out with more time to dodge and pinpoint their location more accurately; although, the downside of it, was that the traps began to go from 'painful but not lethal' to 'lethal', the rocks were now knives, the pitfalls were filled with blades at the bottom and the logs were replaced by a wood surface covered with spikes.
Troughout his training his thoughts consists of, 'Is he trying to kill me or help me easily survive anything!?'
He was greatful that his mentor was making him stronger, but at the same time, the old man maybe wants to kill him...
Nah, he was exaggerating that last part.
Anyway after a month of finally overcoming those new added traps. Urokodaki told him to bring his training sword with him and he also told him to go down the mountain while holding it. It was the first time in a long time that he was caught in the traps again thanks to not being used to the weapon in his hand and it hampered his movements.
Good thing that the masked old man seemed to have taken that into account, as he had prepared non-lethal traps that time.
His mentor has taught him the basics and Tanjiro memorised and mastered it within two weeks. Now, he was teaching him other sword techniques. Also, while practicing on his sword he would sometimes practice swinging his hatchet. His old mentor gave him another hatchet similar to his own and his teacher told him to master using the two hatchets as a weapon by swinging the hatchet using both hands everyday.
Then, one day Urokodaki told Tanjiro to try and attack him with the sword; although hesitant at first the Kamado soon learned that he had no chance of actually hitting his master, despite his age, the old man constantly sent him flying into the ground.
Urokodaki-san is really cool and aswome.
Following that began the training for the ten forms of Urokodaki's style of swordsmanship, the Water Breathing Style.
To do that, Tanjiro first had to learn about Total Concentration Breathing, a breathing technique that, in Urokodaki's own words, enhances his body's natural healing power as well as stabilizing and energizing his spirit by making the oxygen flow into every cell of his body.
When he had first tried it, he felt the breathing technique similar to the one he was always using since he was ten.
Ever since overcoming the traps, this was the first thing he has felt pain for not accomplishing, as the man with the tengu mask hit his stomach with his palm every time Tanjiro wasn't bracing it. Yup, this felt similar to the one he would use whenever running long distances.
His lungs feels like it was about to burst and his heart was about to explode out from his ears.
The waterfall training began two weeks after he had been introduced to total concentration breathing and it only got harder and more dangerous as he continued. He would meditate under the water with his shirt off while he would do total concentration breathing for twenty four hours. He will only eat a large amount of breakfast and after that he would be under the waterfall in a lotus sitting position for a long time.
In the morning to the afternoon he would be hit with the sun's hot rays while in the evening his body would be exposed to the night's cold air. He would only do this training in both Saturday and Sunday while in the weekdays he would proceed to his regular routine.
Also, he would get some harsh red rashes all over his body during training, which he desperately tries to hide.
Tanjiro knew that the old man was suspecting something because he had overcome all the training given to him. Well, with determination a person can overcome anything, but Tanjiro knew that the old man was suspecting him about something.
When Urokodaki-san had asked him one time about the rashes all over his body. Tanjiro would answer that he has sensitive skin and since that day he kept his guard up. The boy was glad that the old man wasn't voicing out all of Tanjiro's suspicious behaviour. Like why does his body healed quickly even though he hadn't mastered any breathing techniques yet, his natural brute strangth, large stamina and his many red angry rashes on his skin whenever his under the sun.
When it was almost three month away before the year had ended. Urokodaki-san had told him to go even higher up the mountain where the air is even thinner than where he first began his training, and the way down not only had traps, but also slopes and cliffs that he had no way of overcoming, but by climbing down.
Tanjiro knew that he had already broke his limit troughout these almost two years of training and now he he had gone beyond the line.
"..."
His eyes snapped open and he sprang out of the futon that he was laying on. His nightmares came back to hunt him again and this time those dreams had the image of his dead family in it.
Tears run down from his eyes and the young boy laid back down, as he mourned for hours until sleep finally took over him.
"..."
After two years since he had begun training under his mentor. Tanjiro didn't expected his mentor saying this to his face, "I have nothing more to teach you." Urokodaki said after Tanjiro had finished going down the mountain that day.
It was really out of the blue.
He was panting and had dirt on his face when his mentor told him that. Ever since this hellish training, he felt his healing ability growing stronger and he decided to wore even longer sleeves to hide it. He can't let anyone know what that monster did to him...
If he hadn't escape from his grasp. That monster wouldn't have attack his family. He always thought throughout the years and sometimes it had distracted him in his training. But he was greatful that his mentor had snapped him out of his negative thoughts and slapped him with an inspiring speech about not dwelling on regrets.
Now back to the present day, he and his mentor walked back toward his mentor's home. While walking, Tanjiro noticed his clothes getting a little tighter and when they finally made it to the living room.
Urokodaki-san handed him new clothes which he was very grateful for. He quickly slipped in to his new red long sleeves kimono shirt and new black pants. After dressing up, his mentor asked him to follow him to who knows where.
Both if them exited the house with the old man in front and Tanjiro behind him.
Tanjiro followed his master, as the masked old man calmly walked around the forest, not clearly knowing where he was going.
'It's snowing.' The Kamado thought, noticing the snowflakes that where falling and looking around, unconsciously comparing this forest and to the mountain that he had once grew up in.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when Urokodaki-san stopped walking.
They had made their way to a clearing in the forest and in the middle of it was a large boulder with a rope tied around it. Tanjiro was shock when the man suddenly turned around with a sword in his hand, "If you want to go to the final selection you must win a battle against me." He stated, as he quickly lunged at Tanjiro.
The boy was to slow to draw his blade, so he was almost sliced by his master. Tanjiro gritted his teeth when his master turned his blade once again towards his direction making him lean back and perform three back handsprings.
When he was a good distance away from Urokodaki-san. Tanjiro unsheated his katana from its case, "Damn." He cursed in admiration at his master's skill.
Both individuals delivered blows and each slice sent by the other would return. The battle held on for three hours and Tanjiro was already sporting cuts all over his body while his master only sweat a little bit. But, Tanjiro was happy nonetheless that he managed to sent a cut on his master's chest and right arm.
However, it was not enough to defeat him.
Tanjiro breathed a huge chunk of air and the blade in his hand went ablaze. He used the fired up blade to sent a cut towards his mentor's waist when Urokodaki-san countered Tanjiro's own attack with one of his Water breathing form. The old man bend down his legs, "Third form: flowing dance." He said, as he swung down his katana towards him.
Both blades clashes and Tanjiro gasped when his katana flew out of his hand. He then screamed in pain when the water from Urokodaki-san's blade hit him on the chest.
His back crashed down on the snow covered ground while his eyes widened at the wound on his chest. Tanjiro heard his master withdrawing back his blade to its scabbard. Urokodaki-san stood over the boy's fallen form, "Come back and fight me when you're stronger. Until you send a slash like that on my chest." He pointed his finger at Tanjiro's wound, "I will allow you to enter the final selection."
With that said, the man walked away while Tanjiro slumped his head back on the ground. Quite disappointed to see that he was still weak. He eyes the long cut on his chest and he saw it slowly healing. Ten minutes after, the wound disappeared and a scar was the only thing left on his chest.
He needs to train more and it was a bad idea to used the Hinokami Kagura...
There wasn't any breath form in his family's sacred dance. It only just produces a different kind of flame around the weapons held in his hands.
Suddenly Tanjiro heard a yell from somewhere, "You have been trained to master Water breathing, but you chose to do some Flame breathing style!" Tanjiro narrowed his eyes at the voice. The voice was muffled a little bit, but he identified it as a male's voice.
Tanjiro sat up and faced the owner of the voice, "I just wanted to test it out." He snapped back, but his face flushed from embarrassment since what the stranger said was true.
Sitting on top of the large boulder was a boy with pink hair with a familiar mask on his face. The boy wore a white haori over a tricolour kimono shirt with cube likes design. In his hand was a katana and some of the end was resting on his right shoulder.
The boy quickly leaped off the boulder and before Tanjiro could react. The masked boy appeared in front of him. A kick was sent to the Kamado's side and he skidded a few centimetres back. Tanjiro used the momentum to rolled back to his feet.
His eyes narrowed at the boy, "Hey, what's the big idea!" He shouted, but he received no response from the boy except for a chuckle.
"You know..." The masked boy started, "By staring at you, I can feel that you have killed a lot of demons. However, by watching your fight from earlier—" He paused and behind his mask. Tanjiro felt the masked boy's stare hardening, "I can see that you still have a lot to learn and which is decision making. From your fight earlier and the way you tried to defend from me, you always let your guard off at first."
"Look kid, I don't know if you're like this with humans or demons. But in the rules of fighting you should always have your guard up." The masked boy then stopped and the aura around him darkens, "Or are you pretending to be weak."
Tanjiro froze at the masked boy's words and judging by his reaction. The stranger in front of him let out a laugh, "I was right." He blankly stated, "I know you can't easily defeat Urokodaki-san, but still...you're playing weak against me."
Tanjiro let out a breath first before inhaling a lot if air. He sent the air throughout his lungs and stomach, building the capacity up before pursing his lips and exhailing a large amount of breath forcefully.
He can only do constant total breathing for only four days without stopping. It might not be the same level of Urokodaki-san, but that type of level doesn't need to be looked down on.
Tanjiro stood straighter, he brushed the fringes on his forehead up using his right hand. He slicked his fingers further back until it reached the back of his head. He then reached towards his mask that was on the side of his head and pulled it back over his face.
He developed this habit when his fringes would get in the way on his face whenever he would wear a mask...
However, he would only do this when he's angry or serious.
The boy in front of him took a stance and Tanjiro also took a stance when he unsheathed his blade from its scabbard. Three seconds after, both disappear in a blur and both engaged in parrying each other's attack.
The pink haired boy almost got him when Tanjiro slid his blade further back until it reached the handle before doing a disarming maneuver. He twisted his own blade around his opponent's handle and the sound of swoosh was heard.
Behind him without looking, he heard the sound of a blade stabbing trough the snow covered ground. In front of him, the masked boy huffed, sounding impress.
"Well, Tanjiro." The boy told him before holding out a hand, "My name is Sabito and we will help you train."
What does he mean by we? Before Tanjiro could asked what does he mean by 'we'. He saw a girl with black hair and blue eyes come out from behind the large boulder, "My name is Makomo." She stated and waved hello, "Nice to meet you, Tanjiro."
The red haired boy finds it odd that he couldn't smell their scent. He wondered where they came from since he knee that he and Urokodaki-san were the only people in the mountain. Not wanting to question it, he nodded at them. Feeling greatful that they were helping him.
"..."
Tanjiro fell back to his training routine. However, today two others also joined his training.
Sabito would spar with him and whenever Tanjiro failed doing one of the water breathing form. The masked boy would hit and shout at him.
He would say whenever he and Tanjiro are in a spar, "Slam it into your flesh!" He said before stopping the clash and begin a flurry of attacks. "More!" The peach haired man yelled, not relenting in the slightest. "More!" He pushed Tanjiro back and the moment he had regained his footing rushed at him again, still exchanging blows. "So that you'll never forget the secrets Urokodaki-san taught you! Pound it into the marrow of your bones!"
Tanjiro despite mastering total concentration breathing, is really having a hard time to do the forms in Water breathing. The red haired boy already memorised the basis and how the form is, but whenever he would attempt the breathing style. It feels a little bit unnatural to him.
After sparring with Sabito. Makomo would help him in his form and stance. She would point out all of Tanjiro's flaws and would correct his moves whenever he failed to do it right.
Tanjiro learned from Makomo that she and Sabito were also students of Urokodaki-san. The boy was happy and shock at first when he heard that; however, something felt weird since his master had never told him about his other students.
At first he was suspicious, but he chose to ignore it. Not wanting to pry. If they said they're Urokodaki-san's students, Tanjiro believes them with his whole heart.
They trained like this throughout the months. Tanjiro would time to time challenged his master, but he would easily lose. However, his master had acknowledged that he had made progress in his training.
The young boy still can't accept his loses because he needs to be a demon slayer to help his sister. And to pour salt in his pride, the old pillar wasn't even being serious.
So, he trained even more harder.
Then, it was finally time to face Urokodaki-san again. It had been already three years since his master had made him his disciple. Now, they were facing again. Tanjiro knew that the final selections will be a week from now and he couldn't afford to waste more time.
Both master and student drew their sword. Both of them took a stance before leaping towards one another. Tanjiro's blade clashed with his master's blade. Both individual pushed each other until Tanjiro decided to use both of his legs to send a kick on Urokodaki-san's stomach.
While both of Tanjiro's foot was still connected on his master's stomach. The redhead used it as leverage to jump off him to put a few distance away from the old man. Tanjiro flipped two times in the air before landing a good distance away from Urokodaki-san.
The young teen brushed up his fringes from his forehead before placing his mask on his face. He took a stance and decided to finish it in one shot. It seems like his master had the same idea.
"Water breathing." Both Tanjiro and his master started, as they brought out their blades a little bit higher. "First form: Water surface slash!" The two of them shouted at the same time before disappearing from their previous spot.
Then they appeared again in the middle of the battle ground with both blades held high. Their katanas had water coming out of them and both males send a slash towards each other.
The two attacks collide and Tanjiro was send back a few meters before crashing onto a tree. He coughed up blood and he gritted his teeth when he saw the long diagonal cut that was on his right shoulder and it was going down to his right thigh.
He glanced up to see his master's state and a small smile appeared on Tanjiro's face. There on the old man's chest was also a long cut, despite the old man was still standing on his feet while Tanjiro is on the ground. He felt satisfied that he had finay inflicted damage to his master.
He's really sorry for his action and he hoped that his master was alright—'Huh.' Tanjiro heard the sound of cracking and his eyes widened when the large boulder behind his master was cut in half, but that is not the only thing that shocked him.
A gasp escape from his pursed lips when his master's mask too split apart to reveal a old man with brown kind eyes and a wrinkle smile full of pride. Tanjiro finds the man familiar, 'Wha—' Before he could finished his thoughts, his whole world spins.
In his blurry vision, he saw his master walking towards him. Then, Tanjiro felt a weight on his head and his mask was moved aside.
Urokodaki-san crouched down, "I'm proud, Tanjiro." He sincerely told him, "You can enter the final selection."
With those words, a chuckle escape from Tanjiro's throat before falling to darkness. He finally passed out, but he was glad and happy that he finally had done it.