The next 5 days were absolute turmoil for Eira. Although she dealt with no demons, she faced an even bigger challenge, Ali. The days consisted of non-stop talking and interacting. She found herself constantly facepalming and rolling her eyes, which she had never done before. Something about Ali's nonstop comments, statements, and overall speech just annoyed her. No matter how many times she shouted at him, he would just laugh and continue talking. She never found an opportunity to escape from the painful chokehold of his speech he had her on. Walking out the gates that they had entered through was like a big wave of relief, finally, she would be free from the endless chatter she faced. Of course, she was grateful for the fact that she had gotten out of the Final Selection alive and well, but it felt as if she sacrificed her mental health for her physical health.
"In that entire forest, the biggest demon was definitely Ali and his stupid stories..." She sighed as she sat on a rock. Ali had wandered off. He was the least of her concerns, Eira gulped, two young children stood staring at the survivors, they stood over a table full of rocks. The kids were from the Ubuyashiki family. The family that ran and led the Demon Slayer Corps.
They seemed creepy to Eira, their eyes were always wide and it felt like they never stopped staring at you. They both shared a calm and stable purple aura, it never wavered and stayed a perfect shape. They explained having to pick a Nichirin ore, the rocks on the table, which would be made into a sword.
Eira was so distracted by the process that she hadn't realised it. Looking around her she was shocked. Her heart sank. The only survivors were her, Ali and Asumi. Where had everyone else gone? Did they all really... Eira was broken out of her train of thought by Ali's turn on picking an ore.
"Jeez... what a hard choice. Even though they all look the same..." Ali laughed and then put his hand on a rock. Unexpectedly, a figure dropped down. It was none other than Ali's mentor, the Wind Hashira, Sanemi. He gave Ali an angry look. Ali smiled back, throwing the rock up and catching it again. The Wind Hashira pulled Ali aside and seemingly started to talk to him. Eira went up and looked at the selection of rocks. It was hard to pick one without any prior knowledge. Inanimate objects didn't have feelings or an aura, so she didn't know which would be ideal. She gulped and pointed to one. After getting a nod, she walked back.
She saw that everyone had gone and decided to leave as well. Final Selection had finished. Now the wait has begun. She would leave for the mountain. Ready to see her older brother again. She missed the coldness of the mountains, the warmth was nice, but it didn't feel the same as her home. Eira smiled and took an exit towards her mountain, it was confusing, there was only one entry but several exits. Eira assumed Ali and Asumi both took different exits as she didn't see them.
Ali took a deep breath and rested his wooden sword on his shoulder. Ali had just been lectured by his mentor for losing his sword strap.
"He ignored all his business and missions, and went out of his way to come to see if I lived. Just to lecture me on losing a sword strap." Ali laughed and thought. Ali looked back at the Wisteria Forest, smiling a bit. He looked at it with the hope to remember it forever. No matter what happened to him. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small rectangular box. It was high quality and looked expensive. Ali opened it with a smile on his face, in the soft red velvet cushions of the box a flower lay. A flower that matched the one Asumi wore in her hair.
"We didn't meet properly huh? Well, it's alright, I'll wait another 6 years if I have to, just to see that sweet smile" Ali sighed and closed the box, sliding it back into his pocket.
He continued to walk on the gravel path. It was all behind him. He passed. He couldn't help but wonder how the others felt, satisfied? happy? He shrugged and continued to walk. His mentor had already left him in the dust, running off without him. It was a surprise to Ali that he even showed up, Hashira are often busy. Very busy. Well, others did say Sanemi had a soft spot for Ali, even with how annoying he got. Ali looked up at the blue sky, he had a goal in his head that he wanted to reach. His head lit up with all the fantasies of him being awarded the 'Wind Hashira' title. He looked back straight, knowing he had a long way to go. He clenched his wooden sword and sped up a bit, sprinting, the cape of his tight haori flying.
On the other side of the forest, it was quite different for Asumi. She walked slowly, her knees shaking, she had stayed awake for most of the Final Selection, fearing death. Her only fear. She imagined her family's bright faces when they would see her, and how she had been able to return. She wished she could have seen the look on her mentor's old lady, that fateful day Ali had visited. When the old lady started to teach Asumi Flower Breathing, the old lady confessed to being a former helper and trainer at a Hashira's residence. But, after the Hashira passed away, she went ahead and found Asumi's town and stayed there. In the many years of observing the Hashira, she had picked up the techniques as well, although Asumi had to learn the breathing part of the training all for herself. It took 6 painful years of constant practice. But she had developed it into a fine weapon. And so she decided to enrol in the Final Selection. Asumi sighed and continued to walk. Touching the flower in her hair, she remembered her encounters with Ali.
"We got off on the wrong foot. I hope he doesn't think I'm mad at him or something." She took a deep breath and memories of Ali filled her head. It wasn't that she hated him, it was the strong sense of worry she felt, she couldn't possibly see him get hurt. She didn't want him to risk his life in the Demon Slayer Corps, she swore to protect him. That constant worry in her years of training had changed her, she was thankful that he was still alive, and she also smiled at the fact that he hadn't changed one bit. Still cheerful and vibrant. She had forgotten what it was like. Being in the presence of Ali. She stopped in her tracks. Her flower glowed a bit.
He was still the same annoying boy who would bother her constantly. It was just that they were both almost adults now. They were. Now the wait has started. They wait for their first mission. The three would indulge in their last moments of peace. Before their lives would turn upside down.
Author's Note:
Thank you for 25 collections, I appreciate every single one of you. The chapters after this are going to get crazy after this, so make sure you keep reading.
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