The strange trio entered the shade of wisteria blossoms. There were many other acolytes there.
Tanjiro looked around in wonder, listening avidly to the twin instructors. So intently that he didn't notice at first.
But as soon as the exam proctors finished, Tanjiro turned, and saw Kuri, crouching on the ground, trembling.
Reiko was knelt next to her, stroking her hair comfortingly.
Kuri actually looked more afraid then that yellow-haired boy, Tanjiro mused.
He knelt beside Kuri. Her hands were wrapped tightly around herself, she was shaking, and her mouth was open in a silent scream.
Wordlessly, Tanjiro took her hand and put it on his chest. "Feel my heart beat, Kuri. It's alright. Whatever you are seeing, I'm still here with you."
"Dead…all dead…so many, and I can't do a thing…."
Tanjiro wrapped his arms around her, pushing Reiko aside. "Yes we can. We are demon slayers. We can stop the death. Even if we can't save these people, killing the demons stops the deaths of even more—"
Kuri looked up at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. "I was talking about the demons too. I don't want anyone to die!"
"But they will." Reiko snapped. "People and demons will always die. Save who you can, that's all you can do."
Tanjiro stroked Kuri's hair and chewed on Reiko's words. "You may not be able to save them all. But each person you save has a family that you saved from grief. Even if you only save one person your whole life, you saved the thousands they will touch as well." He grasped her hands. "So lets try to save as many as we can, but remember…" He placed his head against hers. "I want you to live too."
Tanjiro inhaled her scent. She smelled soooo good. But it was tainted by despair. As he held her, the scent purified. He could feel something pulling at him, but he couldn't figure out what, and then all of a sudden, Kuri stood up like nothing had happened.
"Let's get moving." She shouldered her bow. "Slowpokes."