About a year later…
Katsuki panted heavily and blinked away the sweat that rolled off her forehead and into her eyes. She used the back of her forearm and wiped away the sweat. It was the beginning of summer and the strong rays of the sun made it almost unbearable to want to be out. There was barely any wind to compliment the harmful rays and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky to give her a blissful few seconds of shade to cool off.
Before she would pass out from a heat stroke, she decided it was time for a break from her train. She propped herself up against a tree and allowed the long branches and leaves to provide her shade.
Katsuki allowed a sigh to escape her lips and she tipped her head back, resting it against the trunk of the oak tree.
Trying to perfect these stances and techniques for flame breathing was hard. She was used to the movements of water. Being fluid, poised, and smooth. Flame breathing was on the other spectrum. The movements were strong and fierce. They were not fluid like water. They were more so like a burst of energy, striking in a matter of a minute.
However, she was beginning to get a hang of it. While she found it hard to use the two styles simultaneously, the forms had become second nature to her. There were times where he timing was off and she would stumble, but day by day they became cleaner. The task she now had to figure out was trying to blend the two together to possibly make a style that suited her best. Well that's what she hoped for.
Her green orbs glanced down at the book beside her, she picked it up and flipped through a few pages.
"We have a duty to protect those who can not defend themselves" Kyojuro's words echoed in her head.
"We," she murmured to herself. She felt the heat grow on the apples of her cheeks. Upon feeling the heat she waved her hand frantically to cool herself off. She pushed this strange feel back and tucked it away.
"Katsuki, your cheeks are turning red," Daisuke screeched.
"Ah!" she jumped out of her trance and waved her hand over her face. "It's hot out, okay?"
"Sure!" the bird cooed. "I have an urgent message!"
She raised a single brow. She had completed a mission a day ago. There was no way she was being sent on another one already?
"You are to report to the Demon Slayer Headquarters immediately! Head there now! Immediately!" the crow screeched in her ear.
"Oww," she whined and rubbed her ears. "You know Daisuke you don't have to screech when you're right next to me!"
The bird pecked at her head and Katsuki shouted, swatting her hand at her pet. "Come on, cut it out already!"
Katsuki gathered her things and found a hot spring nearby on her way to Headquarters. She had just finished a two hour long training session and did not want to present herself to the master as a mess.
After cleaning herself off, she gathered her belongings and continued her trek to the Headquarters.
At the Headquarters…
Being that she was only ever here once, she still was not familiar with directing herself around. She had one of the Kakushi members lead her to Ubuyashiki's mansion. It still looked the same, gravel, the beautiful green grass, and the porch to his mansion. It was all the same.
She wondered if she would run into Giyu this visit or even Kyojuro. She had to make sure to return his book to him and show him how much she has trained and dedicated her time into mastering flame breathing.
"Katsuki, my child," a male voice entered the area. She turned around to see the ravenette with lavender eyes staring at her with a smile."It is a pleasure to see you doing well."
"Oyakata-sama," Katsuki immediately dropped to her knees and bowed her head. "It is my pleasure to see you in good shape and health."
The man smiled pleasantly. "Your work ethic is rather remarkable. Last time you were here you were a Kinoto. I'm glad I can be the one to congratulate you on earning the last rank as Kinoe. Well done, Katsuki. I am proud of you, my child."
Katsuki's eyes glistened at his kind words. She had not received much appraisal throughout the years being on her own. Hearing that from the leader himself, was all she ever needed. Or so she thought. "Thank you, master. That means a lot coming from you!"
The smile never leaving his face, he asked, "Have you considered that proposition I made to you almost a year ago?"
"While it has been on my mind, I have not decided on anything yet," she sighed in embarrassment out of her own indecisiveness. "Please accept my apology for not deciding on an answer yet, Oyakata-sama!"
He held his hand up beckoning her to stop, "Please, do not apologize, my child." he began. "For this is a decision only you can make and you will know what you want to do when the time comes. I, we, have faith in you."
She sat there with her mouth hung open slightly. She was beginning to understand why her peers admired and loved this man so much. There was never an ounce of anger or annoyance in his voice. He always seemed so calm. Even in this world where you are never promised to see the next day, he seemed so at peace.
"I do have a direct mission for you, Katsuki. Maybe this is something that will help you make your decision."
Katsuki was curious about this offer and waited for him to continue.
"You understand that the conditions for one to become a Hashira is to slay fifty demons or decapitate one of the twelve moons, right?"
"Yes, master!"
"There have been reports of a demon causing havoc in a village located in the snow region. Supposedly it is to be one of the twelve moons."
Katsuki's eyes widened at the information Kagaya was giving her. Was he personally asking her to dispose of this demon? These demons were hand chosen and work under the direct order of Muzan. Their power is almost surpassing pillar level. Shouldn't a Hashira be tasked with this mission?
"I don't mean to interrupt, Oyakata-sama," a female voice entered the area. Katsuki shifted her attention to her right. A girl with black hair and purple tips came walking over. "If your suspicions are correct, shouldn't one of us Hashira, be the ones going out?"
"What a flamboyant idea, Shinobu!" a man bursted with energy similar to Kyojuro's. "Allow me to be the one to go!"
A man who towered over the small girl came up from behind her. The similar stones that Shizuko wore in her hair gave away that this was her mentor, Tengen Uzui. He seemed like a very outgoing individual, Katsuki wondered how he and Shizuko got along?
"I mean to offer a pillar position to this girl, who I have never even heard about in the ranks, you're gonna task her with disposing one of Muzan's twelve moons?" a snarky voice entered the chat as well.
He had a rather complex look, jagged scars all over his face and white hair like snow. His eyes were a purple color and they bore into Katsuki as if he could see her own soul. To say he was an intimidating individual was an understatement. Dominance and strength radiated off the man.
"Easy now, Sanemi," Kagaya raised his hand and the man immediately dropped to his knees. The rest of the other pillars did as well once hearing the master speak. "She is a new Kinoe and a rather excelling slayer."
This made the overly confident slayer scuff at the response he received.
"That's besides the point, you are all currently at designated regions to patrol. I can not risk moving you all to complete this task."
The looks on their faces showed uneasiness. You could tell they were not comfortable or trusting in the decision their master was making. Katsuki couldn't blame them. She was just a mere slayer, she had no business taking on a task of this caliber.
"She has climbed the ranks faster than any other slayer has in the past few years. Maybe she is deserving of a pillar spot of her own," he shot Katsuki a small grin. "Prove to us you are capable, Katsuki. Show us your true power!"
When surrounded by such talented individuals, she found herself being put in the spotlight and an offer she could not refuse in front of them. The mockery and embarrassment she would not let herself live down if she said no in front of everyone. She had to push her indecisiveness to the side this time.
"Understood, Oyakata-sama!" Katsuki bowed her head in respect to everyone in the room.
"Impossible," Sanemi murmured to himself quietly and earned a light tap from the female hashira.
Katsuki bid the slayers and her master a farewell before heading off in the opposite direction.
"What have you gotten yourself into, can you actually defeat a twelve moon, Katsuki!" she cursed at herself and hung her head down.
She had no choice but to try her hardest.
"If it isn't my little Flame!"
That familiar voice created this unknown feeling in the pit of her stomach. Spinning around on her heels, standing down at the end of the pathway was Kyojuro Rengoku. He stood there, arms crossed and a wide smile plastered on his face. His orange orbs burned brightly. Even though it had only been a year he looked so different, but yet, the same as the last time she saw him. He seemed a little more toned and had a bigger build to him, but his facial features and his appearance remained the same.
"My little flame?" she repeated that part to herself. Her skin grew tingly, it was a strange feeling. Katsuki composed herself and the two met halfway.
"Flame Boy, you haven't changed one bit," Katsuki offered a small smile. "Well, you have a bigger build than the last time we were together."
"I will take that as a compliment, I have been training harder and harder!" he belted loudly. "You look good yourself, Katsuki!"
She laughed nervously, "Thank you!"
There was a moment of silence before she spoke up, "So, uh, are you heading out on a mission as well?"
"No, I just got back from one!" he shouted. There was a point in time Katsuki remembered not taking a like to his loud voice, it was comforting hearing it again, knowing he was doing well all this time. "It wasn't anything too bad! Just a demon running around at a nearby village. I would have been back sooner, but all the delicious food they served in town slowed me down!"
She giggled a little and covered her mouth with her hand to contain the laughter, "I'm glad you are back safely."
"Thank you," he responded and eyed her carefully, "Leaving already?"
"Yeah," she trailed off and looked out at the path she was following to leave the headquarters. "Oyakata-sama gave me the mission of heading northwest of here to a village in the snow. Supposedly there is a twelve moon lying dormant there that he asked for me to dispose of."
Immediately he grabbed onto her hands, "What a tough mission that is, but I have nothing but the uttermost faith in you, my young flame! I will pray for your safety and success!"
She gave him a worried look, having someone of his stature praise her in such a manner made her nervous. She had a lot of people at this point bargaining on her success or maybe even her failure, Katsuki was unsure if the white haired hashira was hoping to see her come out on top. She hoped to come out successful.. "Yes, do you think I will be able to defeat this demon? You aren't doubtful?"
"Not at all!" he beamed. He peered down at her hands that rested at her side. Without asking, he reached forward and grasped her left hand. "Your hands, they are still cold!"
She gave the flame hashira a wide eyed stare and yanked her hand from his grapes, "You see," she began to speak, but was cut off.
"Speaking of which, this is the perfect timing! Being that I'm seeing you now and you're going into a district known for its colder conditions!" he used one of his hands go behind his back searching for something. He had something tied around his belt. "This is for you!"
She looked at him closely as he loosened the fabric that he was unbounding from his belt. It was a deep red, burgundy colored scarf.
"A scarf?" she questioned.
"Yes!" he shouted. "Your hands were cold the day I met you, seemingly they are still cold, and I wanted to get you something to keep you warm. I sought out a red scarf for you to wear, I believe it would go well with the passion that burned inside you and that beautiful red hair!"
Katsuki stood there, eyes widened. She was unsure of what to do. No one had ever gotten anything like that for her. That was besides the point. He had complimented her on her hair. Something no one has ever done. She blushed uncontrollably and she felt her heart hammer against her chest. What was this feeling?
"I hope you like it, I know it's not much!"
For a moment Katsuki stood there speechless, the tips of her fingers grazing the material. She was in utter shock that someone went out of their way to buy her such a thoughtful gift. That had to mean he looked at it and immediately thought of her. To be thought about, by someone like Kyojuro, it was an indescribable feeling and she struggled to understand it herself.
"Katsuki, is something wrong?" the flame pillar asked, breaking her from her train of thought.
"No!" she shouted immediately and then turned her head in embarrassment but her lack of proper manners and the sudden outburst. "Sorry-sorry, that was rude of me," Katsuki bowed her head in respect.
"Allow me," he stepped closer to the girl who's cheeks matched her hair at this point and began wrapping the scarf around her. She stood there frozen, looking up at his orange orbs. He then gently pulled her hair up and out from being tucked underneath her wrapped scarf. Kyojuro used a singular finger to tuck a piece of hair that stayed in front of her eye, behind her ear. He smiled widely at the female slayer.
He nodded his head in approval after seeing Katsuki with the scarf on and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I must be off, I promised my brother, Senjuro, I would visit him immediately as soon as I got home!"
He bowed his head and bid the girl farewell, "Good luck, I will be praying for your safety, Katsuki!" with that he took off in the opposite direction she was heading. "Stay warm!"
Katsuki stood there in a daze at what just took place. Her hand grazing the material unintentionally. It was extremely soft. It had a faint scent of the Flame pillar. Finally, coming back to reality she realized she had forgotten to do something.
"Kyojuro! Wait!" she shouted at the flame haired man. He stopped in his tracks.
"Thank you for the scarf! And your book, I still have to return it to you!" she shouted and waved her hand in the air. "I have to tell you everything I learned from it!"
"When you return from your mission you can give it back and tell me all about it, I look forward to seeing you when you come home! Set your heart ablaze and win, Katsuki!" he cupped his hand around his mouth, shouting back. "Don't forget about our promise!"
She watched the man turn around and continue running before she could no longer see him. Slowly she brought her hand back down to the scarf and touched it softly. Her heart finally stopped racing and the heat in her face subdued. Her head was slightly dizzy, what was this feeling? What was happening to her?
"Kyojuro…" she mumbled and gripped the scarf. She nodded her head, determined to win and come back to give him his book back and earn everyone's trust in her abilities. Maybe then she would be able to see Giyu and confront him for his behavior. Luck hadn't been on her side the few times she's been here, he's nowhere to be seen.