The master took me in. It seemed that he had heard my story, but he did not say who had told him. He knew the truth, that it had been a demon that I had fought and killed. He believed in me, telling me that I could become someone special.
I can't even begin to describe how much that means to me. For someone other than Tanjuro to believe in me, it's as if the clouds have been blown away and the sun has begun to shine. For someone other than Tanjuro to show me such incredible kindness, of course I'd follow that person.
He grasped my hand and lifted me upwards, taking me with him and his family. When we reached a certain point, I was blindfolded. He was somebody important, and the location of his home must be protected.
That's okay. Someone like that is surely important, someone with such a kind smile must be protected. His clothes are new, as are the clothes on his children's back. I could tell that he was important from a glance.
The blindfold was taken off a few hours later, to reveal an estate that must be somewhere in the mountains. It's so peaceful here, hidden away in it's own little corner of the world.
I was fed and given a room to sleep in. They offered me fresh clothes, but I refused to give up my haori. It's one of my only keepsakes from home, so I don't want to discard it. They washed it for me and repaired some of the cloth.
After three weeks, I had built up my strength again. I was no longer frail or weak, I could run and jump like before. That was when the master called a meeting.
Early in the morning, a group of nine people assembled in the garden. All of them gave off an incredibly frightening presence, wearing extremely colourful clothes and a sword at their hip.
He called me out and introduced me to them, something that shocked all of them. It seems that this had never happened before, the master taking in a child of his own accord.
He asked me to perform the Hinokami Kagura in front of these people. I was given a wooden sword instead of a kagura but it was easy to adjust.
I took a deep breath, breathing in and out repeatedly. I could feel the air reaching the bottom of my lungs, which meant that I could dance.
I performed the dance, each segment after another. The nine people looked on in wonder, including the master. The nerves disappeared almost immediately and I imagined that Tanjuro was dancing alongside me.
I tried to mimic the way that he moves, with no wasted movements and every stance lining up perfectly.
After I finished, the nine people broke out into whispered conversation. It feels weird to have this many people all talking about me.
Three of them stepped forward, taking a knee in front of the master. A man wearing a blue haori with a white cloud pattern spoke first.
"Oyakata-sama, I would be happy to instruct the boy."
His voice had a rough edge to it, but he spoke kindly and I could feel his respect towards the master echo through his words.
The second person to move forward spoke. A shorter man wearing a light brown haori with white triangles embroidered on it.
"Oyakata-sama, it would be my pleasure to train the boy."
He too seemed to deeply respect the master, looking downwards as he spoke.
The two that had moved forwards seemed to be on the older side, which was strange for swordsmen. Tanjuro had said that all the samurai had retired at forty years old, but they looked like they were past that mark already.
The third man who stepped forward was a lot younger. His hair was orange and red, matching the colours emblazoned against the white cloth of his haori. He was the youngest person present, it did feel like he did not quite yet belong.
"Oyakata-sama, I feel that I would be the best for this boy. I mean no disrespect to Urokodaki-san or Kuwajima-san, but I feel that I could help bring out his latent potential."
He spoke clearly and confidently, looking upwards and flashing a smile at me as he did so. Even though he was the youngest there, he oozed confidence.
"I feel that this choice is best left to Yoichi himself."
The master delivered his verdict and clasped his hands, turning to me to await my response. Such a big decision had been left to me, I did not even know their names.
The rest of the nine stood in silence, observing the selection. It had seemed like they all wanted to step forward, but only the three in front of me had chosen to. I am to study under one of these men and learn swordsmanship. That is what the master had said to me before this meeting.
In regards to my last name, it had been decided that I would abandon it. To keep my family safe, I would leave behind the Kamado name. People might be able to piece together their location from the information available and they will be pulled into conflict. The master had agreed on this, a decision that not even the people present were aware of.
I am no longer Kamado Yoichi. I am simply Yoichi, an orphan boy raised by an old man at a temple who taught me a kagura dance that had been passed down as a rite for hundreds of years. There are certainly faults within the story if it is pressed, but it will hold up for the time being.
Of the three men standing in front of me, I felt pressed to choose the youngest man. The one with the haori emblazoned with flames. The flames reminded me of the Hinokami Kagura and what it meant.
I pointed towards that man and spoke.
"I'd like to go with you, sir."
I spoke as formally as possible, this would be the man that would train me in the ways of swordsmanship so that I can become a Demon Slayer. So that I can become strong enough to save lives and protect the weak. So that I can be more than just a scarred monster.
I bow to the other two men who had stepped forward. I feel bad for declining them, I'm sure they are excellent swordsmen within their own right. My heart is telling me to go with the youngest man and Tanjuro had always said to follow my heart.
"It is settled then. Shinjuro, I leave Yoichi in your care."
The master bowed to everyone present and informed them that they could leave. It seemed strange that they had come here only for me, some of them might have travelled incredibly far to come here.
I felt a little uneasy at that, I'm not so important that people should have to drop everything to come and see me. If the master feels that it was important enough, I will not disagree even if my mind tells me otherwise.
Less than two hours after the meeting, I departed with Shinjuro-san. I say my goodbyes to the master and his children. It turns out that I'll be living with Shinjuro-san and his wife at their estate whilst I train under him. I'm really going to become a Demon Slayer.
He is really talkative, asking a lot of questions about the Hinokami Kagura and my upbringing. I tell him the rehearsed story, that I am an orphan who lived at a temple. The master of the temple taught me a kagura dance to appease the Hinokami, something performed at every New Year to prevent a fire based disaster from affecting us.
I was the only boy at the temple, all the other children were girls who could not perform the dance. As such, I am the only person capable of it now that the old man has died. The temple was closed due to not having enough money and a demon attacked us in the night when we had nowhere to go.
I was the sole survivor, fighting off the demon with only a hatchet until the sun rose and it died. Everyone else was dead, leaving me as the last remaining member of the temple group. The only person with knowledge of the Hinokami Kagura is me.
The story makes it abundantly clear that I am the only person who can utilise this technique, to the point that it might seem false. It doesn't matter, without my last name they cannot find my family. The master has helped me protect that, I will forever be grateful.
Shinjuro-san has a young son, who is four years old. Everytime he talks about him, a brilliant smile lights up his face. He tells me of the Demon Slayer Corps and the Hashira, the nine people that gathered today. They are the apex of Demon Slayers, the top rank that I must aim for.
He is one of the Hashira, the Flame Hashira. He is called as such because he uses a breathing technique known as the Breath of Flames. It is similar to the Hinokami Kagura, but there are major differences. He seems incredibly excited when he talks about the dance, as if he wants to know everything he can.
As we travel, he tells me all about his family. His wife, Ruka and his son, Kyojuro. I can tell that Shinjuro-san treasures his family dearly, because his smile never leaves his face when he speaks of them. This is one thing we have in common, the love we feel for our families.
Even though Father kicked me out and Mother would not even say goodbye, I still love them with all of my heart. I fought to protect them, even if they could not see it. I would do it all over again, in exactly the same way, if it meant that they would be safe.
Father taught me a lot of things, the Hinokami Kagura being one of many. He taught me and Tanjuro how to chop wood, burn charcoal and sell it. He taught us how to fish in the river, how to climb trees, how to hunt for food in case it became scarce.
Everything he did was to help us and prepare us, so I could never hate him. Even after he exiled me, I could never bring myself to hate Father.
Mother and her scary stories are something I could never hate, after all she used to comfort me when they became too scary. That is something that I will miss and I do not know if I will ever see either of them again. I should feel sad about that, but I don't. I'm going to be doing something incredibly important, with no time for regrets.
We stop a few times for the night, often staying in people's houses by taking up their generous offers. It seems that a lot of people are aware that it is not safe to be out after dark and will even harbour strangers due to it.
Shinjuro-san always leaves a bag of wisteria incense for them, telling them to burn it at night to ward off the evil spirits. It is his way of thanking them for letting us stay the night and he always says goodbye with a smile. He waves and claps me on the shoulder, steering me onwards toward our destination.
We eventually reach his home, where I am introduced to his family. His wife is incredibly pretty, she reminds me of Kie-san. His son is always smiling too, running around the house and laughing happily at everything. He has an odd way of laughing, but it will grow on me eventually.
He has the same hair as Shinjuro-san, the orange and red hair that resembles a raging flame. It suits his personality, as every room feels lively when young Kyojuro is in it. I am given a sizable room as my own. It feels weird, having a room all to myself.
I thought that it would feel lonely having space all to myself, but young Kyojuro will always seek me out if I am not training with Shinjuro-san.
Ruka-san is incredibly kind, she always speaks quietly and respectfully to me even though I am the one intruding on the family atmosphere. It is weird, even though I am fourteen I still feel like a child.
I am given a week to recover from the travelling before Shinjuro-san begins to train me. I spend that week doing chores for Ruka-san to make her life easier. I haven't been asked to, but I will do it nonetheless. I am a guest and I should do everything I can to help.
She has taught me how to fold clothes, cook and clean. In just the span of a week, I feel like I have become competent at those things. In the time that I am not doing chores, I am entertaining young Kyojuro. He asks me to play with him and I can't say no.
We play Onigokko and Kakurenbo, games that Kyojuro loves to play. Even if they take a lot of time, we play until he is tired. Ruka-san often watches, smiling as she sees Kyojuro enjoying himself. Knowing that Kyojuro is having fun makes her happy, and that often brings a smile to my face too.
Shinjuro-san has gone on several missions over the past week. As a Hashira, he is a valuable resource to the Demon Slayer Corps. His strength is incredible so it must be utilised when necessary. He protects the territory around his home, his reach stretches as far as Tokyo.
He always looks exhausted when he comes back, but his spirits perk up immediately when he sees Ruka-san and Kyojuro. He smiles and waves to them, as if all his weariness has faded away and he has never been gone. It's very clear that his strength of character lies with his family.
The week of rest has passed and I have officially become Shinjuro-san's student, the Tsuguko to the Flame Hashira. It feels surreal, I will be learning from one of the strongest Demon Slayers.
The nature of Flame Breathing is close to the Hinokami Kagura, meaning that Shinjuro-san was really the best possible teacher. He isn't all that much older than I am, being only a few years older than Tanjuro. He has become such a fantastic swordsman at a young age, something that he should be incredibly proud of.
We start by going over the basics of swordsmanship, he teaches me how to hold a sword correctly and how to stand. He drills the basics into me over and over and over. I am not allowed to use breathing techniques at all, at least not until I understand the fundamentals.
I must swing the sword at least two hundred times a day, even if my arms begin to hurt and my hands begin to wear. I follow Shinjuro-san's instructions to the letter, there is no way that I will be able to progress without listening to what he says.
I move through the stages very quickly, my body absorbs the information brilliantly. After he has pointed out the flaws in my movements, they disappear immediately. Shinjuro-san is surprised, he says that it normally takes longer than that for a swordsman to fix their flaws.
Kyojuro often watches me train and runs over with a cool towel and a container of water, smiling up at me as he hands them to me. He has taken to calling me Yoichi-nii. I can't bring myself to object when he looks up at me with that smile.
It will only be a year or two before Kyojuro begins to train. From what Shinjuro-san has said, every male born into the Rengoku family has become a Demon Slayer. They have always been the Flame Hashira and there has been a Flame Hashira in every generation. Kyojuro will be no exception to this and it seems he already possesses incredible strength even from a young age.
Kyojuro has never once mentioned the mark on my face, looking past it completely and looking at who I am as a person. I know it's just the behaviour of a child but it makes me feel happy that he is able to see past it entirely.
Two weeks after I started training, Shinjuro-san tells me that I have mastered the basics. I can swing a sword two hundred times with ease, my stance is perfect and there are no wasted movements. He smiles as he tells me this, his face beaming with pride. He reaches out a hand and ruffles my long hair.
I am not to use the Hinokami Kagura for now, I am to focus on the Breath of Flame. Shinjuro-san says that it is imperative that I learn his breathing technique as the Hinokami Kagura is so physically demanding. I cannot rely on it alone until I become stronger.
He starts by teaching me the first form, Unknowing Fire. A horizontal slash that aims for the neck at a blinding speed. I am to master this first before moving onto the second form. Unknowing Fire is not difficult to use, but it is very hard to master.
I start with my dominant right hand, slashing from left to right. I slash twenty times and then rest for five minutes. I slash another twenty times and rest for ten minutes. Using a breathing technique constantly is difficult, especially one that is new to me. I have to breathe differently to how I have always used the Hinokami Kagura.
After a week, my Unknowing Fire has progressed massively. I am capable of slashing from left to right at high speed with the edge remaining entirely still. I can almost do the same from right to left, although I have not practised as much.
Shinjuro-san is pleased with the progress, although he does look slightly bothered by it. I assume that someone taking to it quicker than him might make him slightly envious, but I mean no disrespect.
He demonstrates the second form for me. Showing it to me multiple times, so that I can visualise it properly. Rising Scorching Sun, an upwards cut that is designed to remove the limb of a demon or negate an attack.
Rising Scorching Sun is slightly harder for me to learn, but I manage to grasp it within a week and a half. I can cut upwards with incredible speed, so much so that it feels as if my blade burns the air that it cuts. Shinjuro-san is impressed again, praising me and my progress.
I follow suit with the third form, fourth form and fifth form. The fifth form in particular intrigues me, it is the combination of Unknowing Fire, Rising Scorching Sun and Blazing Universe. All three techniques are released as quickly as possible, chaining them together unleashes the fifth form.
It's destructive ability is fantastic, although it is the hardest to master. It will take me at least six months for this one, the chain release of three forms as fast as my arms can move.
I asked Shinjuro-san if there were any more forms and he hesitated before answering.
"There are nine forms in the Breath of Flame. The sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth forms are passed down to the successor of the Flame Hashira."
He makes it clear that it is something passed down within the Rengoku family. Since I will not become the Flame Hashira, I cannot learn the forms. I do not feel angry or cheated, Shinjuro-san has taught me so much already. Like the Hinokami Kagura is unique to my family, the full potential of Breath of Flame is unique to his.
He demonstrates the fifth form for me over and over. I am still practicing the other forms, I just need to become adept with this one as well. It possesses the greatest attacking potential and damages the body of a demon before removing it's head.
It has been six months since I began training under Shinjuro-san. I can now perform the first form perfectly with both hands, this is something I was urged to do by Shinjuro-san. It is not uncommon to suffer an injury that disables an arm or a hand, so I must be able to rely on the other.
The forms are definitely weaker, but I can still use them. I am training more with my left hand, to build up the power and technique so that it matches my right.
My fifteenth birthday has already passed. I said nothing to Ruka-san or Shinjuro-san, they believe that I do not know my own birthday and associate it with the new year.
I feel bad for deceiving them about everything, but it is necessary to protect my family. I'm sure that they would understand if they knew the truth.
Shinjuro-san has been going on missions whilst training me, leaving me to practice the forms on my own. I enjoy training, as hellish as it is. My fingers bleed and my arms ache but I find myself smiling afterwards. I know it is one step closer to being able to protect people.
Seven months after I began training under Shinjuro-san, Kyojuro's fifth birthday arrives. He is very excited, even more than normal. I used some of my spare time to prepare a gift for him, with the blessing of Shinjuro-san and Ruka-san.
When it came time to present his gifts, I handed him a bokken that I had carved myself. It was perfectly weighted for his height, tailored to match him specifically. The look of joy on his face as he swung it for the first time made the gruelling experience of carving entirely worth it.
I've already started to think of Kyojuro as a younger brother of sorts, allowing him to watch me train when he should be learning his letters and mathematics. Ruka-san tries to be strict, but she gives in when she sees how much fun Kyojuro has.
Later on in the day, Ruka-san and Shinjuro-san announce that Ruka-san is pregnant. Kyojuro is going to have a new sibling and he is very happy about becoming a big brother. He runs around the house, wielding his bokken and saying that he will protect his new sibling.
It's extremely endearing. I'm already attached to him, even though I am only here to train. It is as if Shinjuro-san and Ruka-san have accepted me into their family. I will prove them right and become a great Demon Slayer. I will show that they are right to believe in me. I will repay their trust.
I double down on my training, pushing myself to my limits. I can now perform the fifth form with both hands, showing that I have come as far as possible in Flame Breathing. I must keep practicing, I have to be faster. I have to be stronger. I have to breathe deeper.
It's not good enough. Simply being able to perform the forms with both hands is not good enough. I need to be faster and I have to be stronger.
Nine months have passed since I became Shinjuro-san's Tsuguko, it is time for the New Year. I know that Tanjuro will be performing the Hinokami Kagura, but I will dance too. I will dance here for Shinjuro-san. The Hinokami Kagura will help aid Shinjuro-san, the Flame Hashira.
I start the dance at the correct time, when the sun sets. Ruka-san and Kyojuro watch for an hour as I flow through the motions, wielding a makeshift kagura that I made myself.
I lack the traditional garments that we have at home, but my haori will suffice. It is as connected to the Hinokami Kagura as I am. It belonged to my grandfather who gave it to me. A crimson red haori that he had cherished in life, decades old at this point
I think of Tanjuro as I dance, of how he must be dancing too. It is as if I can feel him next to me, dancing together like we used to. Kyojuro is silent, his eyes shining with wonder as he watches me dance.
I don't think I'm that incredible, Tanjuro is far better. I hope this dance brings luck to Shinjuro-san, it is the least I could do for him. A man that took me in and trained me.
The night moves onwards as I continue to cycle through the forms. My movements have become much sharper over the course of my training, allowing me to move more fluidly. My lungs have expanded too, allowing me to breathe deeper.
The dance feels easier to perform now, everything flows smoother. Kyojuro has long since fallen asleep and was carried into bed by Ruka-san. She returned to watch me dance, taking a seat next to Shinjuro-san.
The first rays of light arrive to banish the night and I finish my dance. I find that I am not as exhausted as I used to be. I can dance from dusk until dawn whilst maintaining my breath.
Shinjuro-san carries the sleeping Ruka-san into bed, she stayed to watch me dance all night. She did not speak a word, remaining silent and watching patiently.
When he returns, Shinjuro-san speaks to me.
"Yoichi, you're ready for Final Selection."
I was expecting him to say this sooner or later. Final Selection. A week of fighting against demons on Mt Fujikasane. When that is complete, I'll become a Demon Slayer.
"Shinjuro-san, may I continue to train under you even after passing Final Selection?"
I ask him. I truly want to stay here, to train under my mentor and continue to spend time with Kyojuro. The Rengoku estate feels like home to me now and I feel like there is more that I can learn from Shinjuro-san.
"Of course. You'll always be welcome here."
That line is the same thing that Tanjuro said to me when I left home and it brings back that memory. Since meeting the master, my life has changed for the better. I am now equipped to protect people, to save the weak. It is why I was born strong.
It will take time to travel to Mt Fujikasane and I will be doing so alone, armed with a nichirin katana that had belonged to a previous member of the Rengoku family. It is the only thing that can kill demons, other than the sunlight.
Decapitating them with a nichirin blade will prevent regeneration, causing them to burn to ash and die. Like what had happened to Takahiro-san.
A week after Shinjuro-san tells me that I am ready, I depart from the Rengoku Estate. It will take several weeks to get there, so time is of the essence.
I bid goodbye to Ruka-san, who has always been kind to me. Kyojuro is not smiling when I tell him I have to leave, but he is trying his best to be brave.
I pat him on the head and tell him that I'll be back before he knows it, when he looks up at me and speaks.
"Yoichi-nii, please don't get hurt."
He tugs at the hem of my haori, prompting Ruka-san to place her hand on his shoulder. It almost causes me to choke, seeing Kyojuro so worried. I'm off to do something very dangerous, so the chances are that I will get hurt.
Shinjuro-san doesn't seem to think so, telling me that I am far stronger than the average Demon Slayer already. But I must not get conceited or complacent, one wrong mistake and I could die.
I wave goodbye to the Rengoku family and thank them for everything they have done for me, especially Shinjuro-san. I'll be back soon, I'm sure of it. I'll become a Demon Slayer and work with Shinjuro-san. I'll play with Kyojuro and help Ruka-san with chores whilst she looks after the new baby.
I take the next step towards my destiny, embarking on my journey to Final Selection as I set my sights on finally becoming a Demon Slayer.
Kamado Yoichi will do it. For everyone that believes in him. He will become the greatest Demon Slayer.
Wow. I got a bit carried away here. I originally intended for this chapter to contain Final Selection too but I loved writing the training at the Rengoku estate, especially the interactions between little Kyojuro and Yoichi. Once again, thank you all for reading and I would love to hear your thoughts in the reviews!
-TheGrailsVoice