Disclaimer: I do not own Demon Slayer : Kimetsu no Yaiba or any of its characters/story.

VI: Post-Selection

Well, she passed.

And everything hurt.

After the adrenaline from the last 7 days left her body, Kanao practically collapsed. Nearly forgot I only had one good foot. She didn't, however, want to use the crutches offered to her by whatever doctors were running around them.

She blushed slightly after realizing that she still hadn't let go of Tanjiro's hand. I mean, he doesn't seem to want to let go of me, either.

Sure enough, he wasn't content to stop leaning on her. He looked terrible. It could have been from the slash across his side, but she knew it was something deeper. The loss of his innocence maybe, after seeing just how bad people could be. After watching people get brutally killed right in front of him.

Eventually, they found themselves being seperated into adjacent medical rooms. Kanao couldn't help but think of the street crossing, where Shinobu pulled her one direction and Tanjiro was led in another. But they would see each other again…

Right?

For the rest of the checkup, she only responded with slight nods or shakes of her head to the doctors, eyes open but in a faraway place.

.

"Welcome back, and well done for surviving."

Kanao looked around. There were

four of them

left?

Sure enough, there was herself and Tanjiro, along with the terrified-looking blonde and the black-haired boy with the scar. Did everyone else die?

She kept her face emotionless as she tried to spot Shinobu in the room. It was quite easy, since there weren't nearly as many people in the huge hall as before. Her sister gave her a grim smile, then motioned for her to listen to the speech.

The twins continued, explaining how each new student (since they passed the test, she supposed) would be given their standard gear, and be measured for uniforms. They would also be allowed to select a weapon from the academy's giant collection. God knows where they get all of it.

But Kanao was exempted from that particular rule, as Shinobu was apparently to give her something.

So she watched as each student, including Tanjiro (who had finally let go of her, albeit hesitantly for whatever reason Kanao couldn't name), slowly approached the stage, where a table was being wheeled in by the black-uniformed workers that she saw literally everywhere in the school so far. Scattered across it was every kind of weapon in existence. Anything Kanao could name, it seemed to be there. Were all these stolen from the demons, or do the academy students go on international missions?

A hand on her shoulder interrupted her thoughts. She didn't need to look over her shoulder to know that it was Shinobu. "We need to go somewhere, preferably not here. Let's go." Turning around without question, Kanao followed her sister.

.

The two stood in a hallway, just off from the main hall. Shinobu glanced around, most likely ensuring that no one else was around besides them.

Kanao met her sister's eyes, in question but also in understanding. This meeting was probably for Kanao's 'gift', whatever weapon was to be given to her.

"I can guess that you have an idea about why we're here." Shinobu reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out an object wrapped in white cloth. "This is for you," She said gently, giving Kanao the object. "Use it well, okay?"

The raven-haired new student slowly, almost hesitantly unwrapped it, revealing a small knife. The first word that came to her mind was beautiful. The blade was lightweight and sharp, with sakura flower patterns across the light grey blade. The handle was a dark material with a black leather grip, the crossguard extending outward with blue and white painted designs to make it look like a butterfly's wings.

As Kanao examined the blade, Shinobu gave one more piece of information.

"It was Kanae's favourite knife, given to her by our parents. She wanted you to have it."

Kanao looked up in shock, then smiled sadly. Taking out her coin and flipping it, she watched as it landed on heads. Then, she asked her question. Kanae should have given it to Shinobu. They're family, after all. So…

"Why me?"

She watched as her sister's eyes widened slightly with the unexpected question, then went a little glassy from unshed tears.

"I suppose," she told her with a soft smile, "You'll have to figure that out for yourself."

Subconsciously clutching the knife like a lifeline, Kanao said nothing as her sister left her alone in the hallway.

/-/-/-/-/

One Week Later

Walking alongside her sister, Kanao saw the academy once again in front of them.

The students have been given one week to heal up before coming to school for their first day. Although she still had a sprained ankle, she could, for the most part, walk normally. Of course, there was a cast holding her foot in place, so she limped a tiny bit, but it was still healing considerably quickly. Probably thanks to the training. I've broken limbs but never bothered to take a break longer than a few days…

Still an issue she had. She'd push herself too far, and it would come back to bite her quite fast. The only major example (although there were many smaller versions) of this would be when she had to go to a hospital from extensive training after breaking her right leg. It wasn't even that Shinobu or anyone else told her to. She just would. Almost as if there would be a punishment for not working. Like-

Suddenly, Kanao found herself in her old home. It was often that she'd find this place in her dreams, which would be more like nightmares by that point, but it is a bit usual to be here while awake in whatever real world her body was still in.

Looking around, she saw everything just the way it was before. The folding chairs, the table with the broken leg, it was all there. She could also see her parents, standing over what she assumed was her younger self.

"Brat! Why the hell aren't you working?!" Her father was usually the one to do the yelling, while her mother would more often than not just stand beside him, disgusted or distasteful looks on her face.

Her younger self clutched her wrist, clearly in some pain. Although she didn't say a word, the answer to her father's question was obvious. I'm hurt.

"Well who cares? Go back to work, or I'll break your damn leg too!" Her father narrowed his eyes at the girl on the ground. Her mother reached out to take her husband's wrist. "Honey, if you break her leg, she won't be able to get up and work for us."

Kanao's heart was gripped with anger. Even her mother, who was supposed to care for her daughter's well-being, only protected her because she didn't want her personal assistant to become unable to do all the jobs.

So her father had instead chosen to beat her face up, since she'd still be able to walk. Young Kanao had made no sound, not bothering to. It was too pointless to even attempt to stop it. That was normal, right?

"Kanao? Hey, Kanao!"

Her parents' voices turned into someone else's. Right, it was Shinobu's, wasn't it? She was in a memory, and had to get out.

Everything around her became too loud, threatening in a way. Her throat closed up, and it was all she could do to fall gently to her knees.

The ground opened up beneath her, and she was falling, falling…

"Kanao!"

With a gasp of breath, she opened her eyes which she didn't realize were closed in the first place. She was kneeling on the sidewalk, her sister's hands on her shoulders to keep her steady.

Shinobu looked at her in concern. "Are you okay?"

A nod, even though she wasn't really.

Her sister didn't look like she was buying it, but stiffly nodded and helped her up.

"Let's go then."

/-/-/-/-/

Hello.

Sorry for any inconveniences last week, I just took that weekend off for Mother's Day. I do have a family that I should probably be spending time with, after all.

As for yesterday, I headed up to my cottage. No internet, and I forgot to make the document able to be edited offline. Whoops.

But we hit a milestone today, 50 followers! :D

Thank you to everyone who has followed/favorited/reviewed on this story, I appreciate it a lot. I never even dreamed that this story would be that popular.

Kind of uneventful chapter, but that's (hopefully) okay, since it's setting up some stuff. New story cover also, one I'm a lot more proud of.

Apparently the final chapter of the Demon Slayer manga is either out already or coming out. I don't think I'm ready, it's been a hard ride and I don't really want it to end. :'(

See y'all next week!