Katsuki and Shizuko allowed their bodies to relax once seeing the raised platform at the end of the selection area came into view. It was finally over. The two younger girls from before appeared before them. The remaining slayers gathered around to hear what they had to say to the rest of them.
"Congratulations," the little girl with white was the first to speak. "We are glad to see the rest of you are safe."
"At this point we will be issuing you all your uniforms. We'll take your measurements that way they fit you properly and we will engrave your ranking on the back of your hand," the girl with black hair was next to speak.
"In case some of you did not know, there are ten ranks in total."
The two girls spoke back and forth explaining the different ranks. The lowest being, Mizunoto, which is where we will start off. The tenth and highest behind a hashira, is Kinoe. In order for one to become a pillar you must either kill fifty demons, not including the ones killed during Final Selection, or dispose of a 12 Kizuki.
"Behind us there is a table with ores that will be used to create your swords. Sadly, this process will take ten to fifteen days before your sword is complete."
There were groans coming from the few around us. I'm assuming they were itching to just get started rather than wait.
"Before we allow anyone to pick an ore, please meet your Kasugai crow," the girl clapped her hands together. The sound of crows cooing came from above us.
Katsuki and Shizuko turned their attention to the sky. They watched as the bird landed on their shoulders. For a moment Shizuko gasped feeling the bird attach itself onto her shoulder blade.
Katsuki just eyed the bird closely. The bird had a beautiful coat of black feathers. There was a noticeable streak of white going down the bird's head. Katsuki was still amazed by the bird's beauty.
"These Kasugai crows are mainly used for communication. You may have them deliver messages for you and they will assist you on going out on missions."
"So that's been Giyu's crow that was delivering messages to us, interesting," Katsuki thought to herself. She held a finger out and waited for the bird to allow her to run her hand across its head.
"Now the time has come, please choose wisely between the ores. The ore you choose today will be used to create your sword that you will use to protect yourself and decapitate demons," the girl with black hair broke the moment of silence. The two girls part ways for the slayers to come up the steps and decide on a rock.
"This is so hard," Shizuko whined and planted her hands on her cheeks. "How are we supposed to pick one out of the bunch?"
Katsuki eyed the objects closely. It was a rather hard choice to make. They all look the same, the only difference being the size and the grooves of each. Katsuki had never even seen an ore up until this point. So how was she supposed to determine which would be of more value?
Her eyes scanned the bunch and immediately looked at one in the far back. It had a decent size to it and was not too disfigured. It gave off this glistening look to it by the way the light was hitting off of it. Her instincts were drawn to that one in specific. Reluctantly she outstretched her hand and grasped the material.
"Nice one, Katsuki," Shizuko smiled and also picked a rock from the back row.
A few hours later…
Katsuki trudged slowly in the direction that led her back to Urokodaki's hut. Her body felt extremely heavy and she was exhausted. After allowing them to take her measurements and handing over the ore she picked, she was sent off to go back home and recoup till her sword was made.
Given no time to rest she parted ways with Shizuko. They prayed for each other's safe travels and hoped to meet up somewhere down the lines.
While walking she heard her crow cooing from above.
"Hello, master," the bird spoke.
Katsuki's emerald orbs widened upon hearing the bird talk to her. She was unaware that they had the ability to communicate in that way with their partners.
"Y-You can talk?" she stammered and held her finger out. The bird took this opportunity to hop from her shoulder and onto her extended index finger.
"Yes, all us Kasugai crows have the ability to talk to you humans," the voice of the crow was rather gentle. "My name is Daisuke and I will be assisting you throughout your journey until further notice."
Katsuki offered the crow a small smile. She used her other index finger to rub the top of his head gently. "It's nice to meet you Daisuke, my name is Katsuki Akane, I can not wait to work side by side."
The two trekked together along the dirt pathway. Eventually the familiar hill came into view. Just below it would be Urokodaki's hut. Momentarily she will be home and can let her body heal until her sword is made.
From above the hill Katsuki peered down at the well lit hut. Sitting on the porch with his legs crossed, was Urokodaki. His hands were folded in his lap and his gaze was in front of him. The view of him brought a small smile to his face.
Urokodaki felt the eyes of someone and shifted his attention to the hill. The two made eye contact and he stood up from his seated position. Slowly he made his way over to the girl, who looked like she would collapse at any moment.
"Urokodaki, I passed," the girl managed to speak and eased herself down the hill.
He embraced his student tightly into his chest. He placed his hand on the top of her head and slid it downwards, it was comforting. Katsuki relaxed her body onto his and wrapped her arms around him as well.
"Welcome home, Katsuki," he tightened his grip. A single tear dropping from his eye. "I knew you would make it back safely."
Fifteen days later…
Katsuki's body is feeling much better than what it did two weeks ago. Her injuries from the Final Selection have finally healed and she is back to training. However, she has not been as intense as she was prepping for Final Selection. She has been doing light movement just to keep her body from getting stiff.
She had stepped outside for a moment to fetch more wood for Urokodaki when she noticed a man traveling towards their hut. He wore a brown cloak with neutral colored clothing underneath. He walked at a slow pace.
"Urokodaki, we have a visitor!" Katsuki shouted over her shoulder, refusing to take her eyes off the strange man.
"He's here for you," Urokodaki exited out of the hut and stood behind the new demon slayer member.
The man finally approached the two, his head still pointing downward, leaving them unable to see his face. "Hello, my name is Shikazuka. I have completed forging a sword for Katsuki Akane. I am now here to deliver it."
Katsuki grinned widely, "That would be me, sir!"
"Excellent, I am rather intrigued to see what color your nichirin sword turns. With bright red hair and those green orbs you have for eyes. I'm hoping for a bright colored sword, like red!" He shifted his head upwards and she flinched at the mask he wore.
"Creepy," she thought to herself.
The three made their way inside the hut. Katsuki had the sheathed sword clutched in her hands. She admired the material of the sheath, it was clean and smooth to touch. The tsuba that separated the blade from the handle was a circle and inside that circle gave off the illusion of smoke.
"Nichirin swords are also known as "color changing katanas" meaning it will change depending on its wielder," Urokodaki spoke, waiting patiently for the girl to unsheath her sword.
They were all curious to see what the color would change to. Finally, the red headed girl removed the sword from her sheath and grasped it in both hands.
She gasped slightly watching the gray blade change colors. Slowly the sword attained the color of black.
"It's just… black?" Katsuki's eyes drifted downward. She was hoping for a brighter color or something else that wasn't as bland and boring as black.
"That is a little unusual, you do not see a black sword happen very often," Urokodaki crossed his arms.
Shikazuka huffed angrily and thrashed his arms in the air. "I was hoping for something more extravagant!" He boomed loudly.
Katsuki sighed and shifted the sword, taking in every inch of the sword. While she was disappointed by the color change, it was her first sword and no matter what the color was, she would treasure it till she could no longer lift a sword.
"That's a little odd, did you see that Shikazaku?" Urokodaki pointed at Katsuki's sword.
"What? What happened to it already!?" He panicked immediately.
"Katsuki follow me outside for a moment," he gestured for his student to follow him. Urokodaki did not wait for an answer and began walking to the door. The two left behind eventually followed.
"If you don't mind," he pointed to her sword, "May I see it for a moment?"
"Of course!" she handed it over to her master
Urokodaki held it tightly, Shikazaku eyeing the man carefully. He worried of something happening to the sword being that it took him so long to forge and did not want anything happening to it. Lord only knows how crazy that man will become in an instant.
Urokodaki held it into the light and nothing happened.
"Katsuki, can you hold it at an angle enough so that it absorbs the sunlight, please?"
If she was gonna be honest, she was confused as to what they were doing. But over the last year she has learned to not question Urokodaki. Being that he is usually right with whatever he was getting at.
Katsuki grasped her sword and held it into the light. She gasped softly and watched hues of red and blue glisten on the sword. While it still retained its black appearance, it gave the iridescent colors of blue and red shimmering from the tip towards the bottom all the way to the hilt.
"This is something I have never seen before, what about you Shikazaku?" Urokodaki inquired and looked over at the other masked man.
He was trembling, not in fear, but in astonishment.
"This-This is truly remarkable! In all my years I have never seen such an eye catching and breathtaking sword. You mustn't break it or else I will have to break you!" He cried out desperately.
Katsuki stared at the man with a questionable look. This man was truly odd.
Once the man departed the two were left alone. This would be their last night together for some time being that Katsuki would set off on her journey to complete missions for the Demon Slayer Corps.
"How are you feeling?" Urokodaki asked and placed a heaping load of rice in his mouth.
The newly sworn in demon slayer whipped her mouth before responding with, "I'm not entirely sure. I feel like I should be nervous, but I'm not. It's rather interesting getting the opportunity to visit new places, I guess you could say." Katsuki picked up her chopsticks and munched on her rice.
"That's one way to put it," the old man let out a small chuckle.
"You're still young, so please be careful out there," Urokodaki warned, his voice had a serious tone to it. "Always be on guard and always check your surroundings!"
"I know, Urokodaki," she offered the man a small smile, "Thank you for being concerned for my safety!"
Starting tomorrow Katsuki will begin her adventure as a Demon Slayer Corps member.