Yae couldn't help but sigh, almost contemplating how she got here in life. "Giyuu, just how long must I act as a backpack? We still have to hunt for dinner." "Just give me ten more, and we can go. Besides, I'm the one that carries our dinner, I need to be strong enough to carry it and this helps me build myself back up." Yae conceded, accepting her fate. She had her legs wrapped around Giyuu's waist and her chest to his back as he did pull-ups on a tree. It was utterly amazing, nearly a month ago when he woke up he needed help with almost everything, and now he was capable of this and more. She had no doubt he was able to do more than ten, but only limited himself so they could eat before dark. "Done, alright let's go."

Yae looked up to him as they walked, still finding it hard to belive this was the same man from over a year ago. The man from before felt distant, trying to still be normal or sociable. Here however, he held conversations, he wore his heart openly. She was bewildered, but accepted it with grace. "I'm still sorry about your haori, the sleeves were little more than tatters by the time I got you to safety. At least the rest of it could be saved. It must've been important to you to still keep it."

Giyuu had looked down to his haori, now only being comprised of the main body and missing it's sleeves. Apparently they were damaged horribly when he had was punched by Doma's ice creation. He didn't mind it much, with having only one arm, he didn't see the need for sleeves anymore. Yae was kind enough to use the ruined fabric of the sleeves to help repair the holes the body had sustained. This was only one of the great debts he had to repay her for. "This was originally two different pieces of clothing. The maroon belonged to my elder sister, and the green and yellow to my first best friend. They had given their lives to be able to protect me. I cut them and stitched their halves together, so that I'd always have more than just their memories with me."

Yae looked at the torn haori with solem familiarity. Items taken from those who passed as a way of keeping them with you. "I know the feeling, my uh, my father gave me this rifle. I know the feeling of keeping the dead with you." Giyuu looked down at the rifle, having memories of their last interaction come back to him. "And you had tried to use his gift to end your life?" Yae flinched as she hugged the rifle, unable to answer. Giyuu frowned at his own words. He no longer desired to hide how he felt, but this now meant he always risked upsetting others. Stopping, he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, my words were harsh." Yae looked up to him with a pain expression. "Do you remember when Shinobu and I had told you to find the strength like we had to?" She nodded as she now grew curious what his own story was.

"I have lost many. I have been forced to pull myself together time and time again to find strength in moving forward. There were times where I wanted to die, just as you did." Yae was honestly surprised from it being said aloud. She didn't expect Giyuu to be the kind of person to attempt suicide, but then again she'd only started to learn who he was one month ago. "I don't blame you for your attempt, but I know you regret it as well. The moments I found myself wanting to live was when I was closest to death. They were just times I wanted the pain to stop." Yae silently nodded, agreeing because when her rifle failed on her she remembered just how alive she still was. "Driven by grief and guilt, desperate to find peace. Hopeful in finding a purpose to go on."

Giyuu nodded at her words, before walking again. "I have been able to find a purpose, to live a life truly worthy of those who sacrificed themselves to keep me here: Protecting others as I was." Yae whistled for him to stop, crouching down to the ground. "Deer tracks, may be young judging from the size, but hunger isn't one to care for that." Giyuu nodded as he let Yae lead. Yae sighed as she followed the tracks. "I still have this lifestyle as my purpose, to try and keep it alive. That's all I need, but sometimes..." "It doesn't feel enough? Or that there's more you could be doing?" Yae was hesitant to answer as she took the lead. Giyuu followed behind several feet, not wanting to be in the way. "Does it involve you learning about the demons?"

Yae stopped in her tracks as she pulled her rifle up into the ready position. She saw a sika deer, with it being male it meant more meat and denser bones. She would wait to make a prayer for it until they reached back to camp, not wanting to risk it getting away. Her and Giyuu stood still, her rifle in her shoulder and the deer in her sights. Waiting patiently for her heart and breathing to steady, she finally moved her finger into the trigger well. The shot echoed throughout the forest, only them and the other creatures of the lands being around to here it. "I wouldn't deny they were part of it."

Giyuu walked past her as he closed in on the fallen deer. "Shot through the heart, your firearms truly are fascinating." Giyuu grabbed the deer by the antlers, lifting it with ease. Yae shook her head before letting out an exasperated chuckle. "What's fascinating is this insane strength you've acquired. Maybe it really is that mark I found you with?" Giyuu shrugged as he started to curl the deer in different positions. "If it is, it has nothing but my thanks." The two started to walk back to their camp, wondering just what would be next for them. "You said the demons were part of why you're thinking there's more you should be doing?" Yae rubbed the back of her head as she hugged her rifle.

"After you left, there was no one I could talk to about it. It was impossible to try and live normally. How do you go back to how things were before when you just learned of what was essentially another world? I didn't even stop encountering demons, I've had to trap them like animals and watch them die in the sun. There were even moments where I came across your people on missions, and HELPED THEM track the demons!" Yae sat down on a log, rubbing her head. "What am I to do? There is the dying tradition of the matagi, but I don't want to just stand by while others are at risk of suffering by those monsters!" She lost control of her breathing, it coming out as sporadic and harsh. "I don't want to sit back and watch people risk putting a gun in their mouth because they don't know what the hell uprooted their lives."

Giyuu dropped the deer to the ground and offered her his hand. "We process the deer and tomorrow we start to our next destination. Mt. Sagiri. You talk to my old teacher, and learn what it means to be a demon slayer. If you think it is a calling fit for you, you may train to hunt a new kind of prey. If you don't think it's for you, the matagi life is the only one you need to live." Yae looked between her rifle and Giyuu's hand, before her eyes darted up his. "I'm not switching to the sword, I'm not letting this thing go so I hope they don't mind someone using bullets." "There's a Hashira who uses explosives from firecrackers to bombs, and another that uses poison. I'm sure no one is going to mind about your guns."

Yae smiled before taking his hand, standing back up. "What about you? You still need to go back to your friends." Giyuu picked the deer up once again and continued lifting it as if it was only a training weight. "I need to get back into fighting shape, and going to my sensei will help with just that. Besides, I owe a life debt to you. I can't leave while I still need to repay you for all you've done." Yae scoffed as she started walking again. "No no no, there is no debt. You and your friend already saved my life, then I saved yours when I pulled you out of the snow. We are even." The two made way back to their camp, each trying to counter the other with their own arguments. Each found themselves thankful for the odd companionship, feeling as if it gave them a chance for a better start than before.

For weeks they had traveled, after Giyuu learned of just where they were in relation, the journey wasn't daunting. While he could've made the journey in days, he was required to move at Yae's pace. She was the professional hunter with equipment to carry, he couldn't leave her alone. Their journey had lasted longer for when they camped in a single spot for a day or two, needing to resupply on food, or stopping through villages for medicine or proper beds. The mountain finally stood before them, and neither felt any sense of worry. He smiled, hoping the next time he left this place wouldn't be a gamble on their lives.

"Heavy winds, minimal air, cold air naturally occurring from the mountain top blowing down. Doesn't seem that much different from the places I've had to sleep before." Yae walked forward, not having a reason to feel concerned with meeting the man that taught Giyuu. "If you do begin training, remember to take those words when you begin running through the traps." Giyuu moved past her as she seemed to finally have slight worry, laughing slightly as she remembered to catch up. "You're joking about the traps right? Giyuu? Should I be worried about just what kind of traps he may have?" "Bamboo arms swing on you, tree swing traps, pits filled with broken swords. Nicest part of training is he'll throw you off a cliff into water or standing in a freezing waterfall." Yae chuckled in fear, gritting her teeth as she followed.

They stood before a shack large enough only for a few people at most. Yae was slightly surprised the structure wasn't higher up on the mountain, but assumed that's where the training was reserved for. She watched as Giyuu moved up to the door, knocking without hesitation. After several minutes under the morning sun, he could hear noise inside. "I don't need to be checked up on, I am fine. I am already use to loss and can live with it just fine. Go away." "And here I was coming back from the dead to see you first Urokodaki-sensei. Am I meant to go back to Sabito disappointed?" The door flung open as Giyuu was forced to take a step back.

Sakoni stared at the man before him, almost convinced it was a ghost or wayward spirit once again. "Giyuu... You, you are dead. I visited your burial sight. Saw your mask soaked in blood." Giyuu showed his stump of an arm, holding onto it as he kept his eyes on the old man. "Loss of an arm doesn't quite equate to the loss of a life." Giyuu slowly reached out, grabbing Sakonji's arm. He could feel how much his teacher was shaking, but continued. He placed Sakonji's hand on his chest, letting him feel his heartbeat. "I'm still here sensei, you haven't lost me yet."

Sakonji tore the mask off his face, getting a better look of who he thought was another lost child of his. His body was covered in scars and still healing injuries. He looked down at the stump to see there wasn't much of an arm left, barely anything remaining. But he felt the warmth against his hand, felt the heartbeat pulse outwards against his own. Sakonji couldn't help but pull him into a hug as he felt the strength leave his legs. "I thought I lost you. I thought I lost another child of mine." Giyuu smiled at the man's willingness to show emotion, the mask he almost always wore was to prevent those from seeing his kindness. "You didn't lose me, I just wasn't here for a little while."

Yae watched on for several minutes as the men hugged each other. It was a comforting moment until a bittersweet moment ran through her mind. She wished she could have a moment like this with her own father again, even if it was only a fraction as long as what was happening before her. Giyuu was the first to break away from the hug, turning towards her. "Urokodaki-sensei, this is Yae. A matagi huntress who saved me and watched over me while I was unconscious. She was always there to bring me back anytime my heart stopped." The two watched her as she silently bowed and gave an awkward laugh. "He's been a good friend this last month. He also was the first to save me, a year ago I was attacked by a demon and he came to my rescue. I was only repaying the kindness back."

She was caught off guard when Sakonji pulled her into a hug as well, finally calming down. "Nonetheless I thank you for saving one of my children. Should you ever be in need of something, you need only ask." Yae saw the old man was genuine, his face was truly a kind one look at. She'd question the tengu mask later. "That's actually why we're here Urokodaki-sama. Giyuu wishes for us to stay while he regains his strength, and... I wish to know what it means to be a demon slayer. I've had conflictions this last year as for what I want to do. I've had multiple demon encounters, and I don't know if it's what I really want to do, but I just know I can't sit back anymore. I need to at least try to see if I can handle this. To see if this is what I want."

Sakonji didn't need to use his nose to tell the emotions the girl was feeling: Uncertainty, doubt, fear, but also determination and the desire to be strong. She was a matagi, not one that trains under the sword. "I will help you increase your physical strength and teach you Total Concentration breathing. I can teach you the fundamentals of Water, but I doubt you'll be compatible. Your tool is the rifle, not the sword." Sakonji said as he gestured for her to follow. "Giyuu, you will help in teaching her. Consider this as part of your rehabilitation." Yae quickly followed him as they walked back to Giyuu. "Urokodaki-sensei, if you don't mind, I'd like my survival to not be mentioned to the others yet. It may be selfish, but I need to work on myself before I go back. I need to be MORE than just who I was. I already know I can do it, I just need time."

Sakonji turned to the duo, placing a hand on their shoulders. "It's as I said before when you first came back to me Giyuu. I will never turn you down, this is your home. You come as you please, you leave as you please. Now, the same may apply to you Yae. You have saved my son, and you are now one of my daughters because of it. Even if you do not choose the life we have, this shall be your home regardless." Yae felt her eyes sting as she nodded, more than happy to take the offer. "You truly are a kind person Urokodaki-sensei, your face matches your soul." Sakonji was quick to put his mask on, quickly shifting to teacher mode. "Alright, enough with the sentimentals. Let us begin, we will rebuild you two for as long as you need."

Sakonji had remembered something, before rushing back into his home. "Before we start, someone else had missed you!" Giyuu was confused as to what else there could be, until he saw a small bundle of feathers in his hands. Giyuu stroked the old crow, smiling to see who it was. "Kanzaburou, it's good to see you old friend." The crow slowly raised his head, opening its eyes in the morning sun. "Who?" Giyuu chuckled softly, taking the bird in his lone hand. "It's Giyuu, I thought you said you wouldn't forget me, even if you forgot everything else?" The bird stood up, looking towards the man. Giyuu had never seen the old bird cry before, but there were many firsts in life. "Giyuu! Giyuu! Giyuu!" Kanzaburou flapped his wings as he flew around the man, as if to examine every inch of him. He had landed on his right shoulder, saddened by looking at the damage his friend took. To comfort himself, he rubbed himself against Giyuu's neck and cheek. "I missed you too buddy. I'm sorry for scaring you."

Over the course of time, Giyuu and Yae had trained themselves to the best of their abilities. Kanzaburou was never far from either, as if he was afraid they would disappear again if they left from his sight. Yae hadn't pursued Water Breathing, however she had proved capable of using Total Concentration fundamentals. She still refused to pick up the sword, but had learned the ways of bayonet and knife warfare. Even with only the basics of breathing techniques, it proved useful. However even with the harsh and physically demanding matagi lifestyle she grew up with, she was unprepared for how much the training would strain her. As the days and weeks of her training continued, the strain only built up as well.

Laying on her back in the dirt, she looked up to the afternoon sky as her arms were screaming at her. "I can understand all the endurance training, and the weight training, but why did he make me stand under the waterfall while holding them outwards?! What is the point of that?!" Giyuu walked up and stood over her, holding a gourd of water above her head. Kanzaburou had landed on her leg, looking over her before sitting down. "It's to be able to help build a strong everything. It's a force that is by nature, crushing you to force you down. By being able to hold against it, you become a steady immovable force. Able to stand against most that you may face. Plus, just think of the water as constant weight on your arms, get use to it and they'll become strong." Yae sighed as she looked up to him. "Can you just give me some water? I don't know if I can move my arms."

Giyuu nodded as he helped sit her up, slowly pouring the water into her mouth. "You've kept up far better than I thought. Still contemplating if you'll choose this life?" Yae happily swallowed down the water, laying back down comfortably. "Yeah, I'm sorry that I'm still being indecisive on this. I just... tradition versus new life, you know? Do I abandon the way of life I was raised in, or do I actively not help humanity as a whole from a threat I now know of?" "You're strong... You'll know what to do." Kanzaburou added, hoping to be helpful. Giyuu understood what she meant, she was an adult who was only exposed to it as an adult with her own life before this. He won't deny that most slayers weren't anywhere near thirty, being exposed to it early in their years. "Urokodaki-sensei and I won't blame you, even if you choose to not pursue this life, the training here will help you stay alive."

"Speaking of staying alive, how are you going to achieve that with how your body has been?! Your heart still hasn't settled and you always feel like you're burning up." Yae finally lifted her hand to feel his forehead, noting he still felt hot to the touch. Giyuu sighed as he laid next to her. "I promise you I'm feeling just fine, in fact, this is the best I've felt in a while. Even sensei doesn't know what it is, but this is the most strong or capable I've ever been. I just know because of this newfound strength, I'll be able to kill Doma the next time we meet." The two heard Sakonji calling on them for lunch. Giyuu had practically launched himself upright before pulling Yae to her feet. "This mark giving you a boost seems too easy, there has to be something else to it." "I mean I've already died before, not much else can happen to match that right?" Giyuu was quickly reminded to be silent about that topic as Yae punched him in the side, even Kanzaburou pecking at his head to get him to not talk that way.

With more time having passed, the two continued to push themselves. Giyuu had gotten use to his left arm, finding it as capable as his right before it was lost. He remembered what Sabito had said, he was best when his heart was what guided him. Speaking with Sakonji on it, the old man had told him he was no longer bound by his words. He had long since become his own man, he was free to practice as he thought was right. Giyuu couldn't help but feel estatic. He had closed off his heart for so long, it was liberating to let it help guide him again. His thoughts went from Sabito to Tsutako in an instant. Looking up to the sky, he could only pray they were still watching. "All of you, thank you. You all are my strength, I carry each of you in my heart. Let it guide my blade to strike true, may it guide me to all that I can be."

Giyuu and Yae found themselves reaching what they believed to be their peaks of their current potential after months of safely training. Giyuu in allowing his heart to help guide him, found his strikes to be fueled with vigor unlike ever before. Not just from the power the mark had given him, but from being able to allow himself to feel alive once again. He had spent so long attempting to maintain control over himself, he forgot how it felt to undo the shackles of it. Yae herself had believed she truly lived to the title of hunter. Dodging and evading all the traps Sakonji had set up helped build her reflexes and instincts, not having to think about her movements, only acting them out. Her eyes and overall perception were sharper as well, she was capable of consistent target shooting she never was before.

Giyuu and Yae had moved up to the final place of training grounds. Giyuu looked towards the boulder he failed to cut last time he was here, the boulder only scarred from his past failures. "This? This what you have to do to pass his lessons?" Yae looked to the boulder, seeing it was taller than either of them and stood in awe of it. Kanzaburou had landed on the top of the boulder, pecking it lightly. "Big boulder." "This is even larger than the one his latest student used. Before, I was conflicted on everything. I just felt so much weight removed from my shoulders when I finally spoke to the others how they made me feel. It didn't feel right at the time, Water Breathing was meant to be used while in control of one's self. I was trying to fight with myself, between what was taught to me, and what I thought was right." Giyuu grabbed the spare nichirin sword that Urokodaki-sensei gave him, drawing it free as it shined in the evening sun.

"So I'm guessing that's what this last test is for? Mastery over yourself and the skills you've developed?" Yae asked as she watched as Giyuu intently, almost holding her breath for him. She knew this had to have been a significant moment for him, she feared she would throw off his concentration even with the simplest of noises. Time almost seemed to slow down as she watched him. "Exactly." Giyuu lowered himself into a low position, twisting his body into a full rotation. Yae and Giyuu looked at the boulder, the former almost expectantly as she looked at it. She watched as Giyuu placed his sword down and put his hand against the boulder. Neither seemed surprised from watching the top half of the rock slide with smooth ease.

Yae patted him on the back, smiling as he stood up. "Good job. This must mean a lot to you after the last five months." Giyuu smiled as he put the sword back in its sheath. "Don't worry, you won't have to do this. This is a test for Water Breathers, and you may just yet find your own style." Trapped in their own thoughts, they were unaware of Sakonji standing behind them. "Amazing slice Giyuu." Both having been caught off guard, turn to see him approaching. Looking at the location of the cut, Sakonji ran his hand against the surface. "A clean cut, not a single hint of hesitation or uncertainty. Yae, you still have your own test ahead of you, so do not worry of being unable to do what he can. Life tests us in many ways, all incomparable to each other."

Yae smiled softly to her mentor and new found father figure, feeling more confident in her answer as to what she wanted. "Urokodaki-sensei, Giyuu... I think I know what I want to do. After all this time with you both, learning more and more, I can't sit out this fight out any longer. I don't know how I'll do it, but I'll become a demon slayer like you two." The men couldn't help but smile, with Sakonji placing his hand on her shoulder. "You have my faith Yae. You have already proven yourself as an excellent hunter of beasts, now you can prove to be an excellent hunter of demons." Sakonji pulled his hands can before reaching behind him, pulling out items for the pair.

Giyuu and Yae looked down at the items, with the former smiling at the familiarity. Urokodaki-sensei had made them masks, each taking them happily. Giyuu noticed his mask was ceramic clay though, rather than wood. Yae's was much the same. "An attempt of making it more sturdy, as to not give that new scar across your face a sibling." His new mask bore the same vibrant blue eyes as before to match his own. This new mask however had new additions. The eyebrows were removed, but now bore the same mark he now wore on his face, and the cracks of silver spread across the mask. Giyuu had recognized this concept, it was kintsugi, the art of using precious metals to rejoin broken pottery into an artistic expression. "Broken apart, to be put back together and given new life."

Yae had inspected her mask, actually finding the part over her right eye able to be removed and placed back through joinery. With the full mask in front of her, it almost looked like it was burned by black powder. It had spots of darkness as well as the scent of spent powder. Looking to the part that could be removed more closely, the right eye had a scope insignia around it. She never had said openly it was her dominant eye, so Urokodaki-sensei must've noticed at some point himself. One thing that caught her off guard however, the left eye was edged with the same silver as Giyuu's. "Any future involving you, can only be seen by you. May you soon find out what your true place is. May you make the choice to be one of us for yourself, rather than thinking you are obliged to be."

The two hugged their mentor once more, thankful for all that he's done. "What will you two do now? I trust you have some kind of plan?" Giyuu and Yae had already placed their masks on, sharing a glance at each other. "We should go to the swordsmith village, I am in need of a new sword. Yae here could potentially use nichirin metal for her bullets and blades." Sakonji nodded at the idea, believing it to be the best choice of action. Giyuu whistled as Kanzaburou landed in his hand. "Kanzaburou, we're going to send you to the master with a letter. Do not tell anyone that it is me, alright?" The old crow looked confused, but agreed. Attaching the letter to the crow's leg, Giyuu had sent him off to fly into the distance.

The next day, Kanzaburou had returned guiding two kakushi. The trio had watched them approach slowly, almost uneasy at not being the only ones to wear masks. "We are here to deliver two slayers to the swordsmith village. Would that be you two?" Giyuu walked up, taking off part of his mask to reveal his eye. "Yes, I need a new sword made. My friend here, she will be a special order. Everything from blades to bullets. We would like to stay in the village until our orders are done." The male kakushi almost looked uncomfortable, his eyes darting down. "If you don't mind my questioning, why are you wearing the fallen Water Hashira's haori? It's blatantly his with it being uniquely identifiable to him. It's even partly damaged."

Giyuu laughed as he removed his mask fully, showing his face to reveal who he was. Before they could scream in shock of his survival, he placed a finger over his mouth with a smile. "I'd like to keep this a secret until I reveal myself. I'd appreciate it if you two did so as well." The kakushi slowly nodded, giving thanks that he was still alive. Putting his mask back on, he allowed the earplugs to be put in. "Yae put them in, the village is meant to be kept secret. Without it, all slayers lose their chance to fight the demons." Nodding, Yae put her ear plugs in as she was picked up. The two were carried by the Kakushi, making off into the distance.

Sakonji watched on as his students left, smiling under his mask. "Farewell my children. You two have proven stronger than I could've known, I trust in you both to have safe travels." Kanzaburou landed on his shoulder, his head hanging slightly. "Giyuu said for me to return to the Butterfly estate. To wait for him there. I'm going to miss him again." Sakonji comforted the bird, rubbing his head. "Giyuu stared at death itself, and was not the one to blink. We have him back after so long, we can wait a few more weeks." Sakonji and Kanzaburou had continued watching off in the distance, unwavering as a large group of foxes stood next to them.

"What do you think Makomo? Do you think they'll be alright?" He looked down to see a fox wearing a flower crown, standing on its hind legs reaching up with its paws against him. "Sabito?" He saw one fox with a scarred face at the forefront, as if standing guard over them all. "What about the rest of you?" He watched as nearly a dozen foxes simply bathed in the sun, played with each other, or had their focus split between him and the direction of Giyuu and Yae. "I see this is how you all can finally be silent, so this is what peace is." The foxes almost in unison screamed into the silent afternoon, causing the old slayer laugh slightly. "I suppose you all are right, being a father doesn't allow peace. Come now, I wish to listen to the waterfall."

Hours had passed as Giyuu and Yae were carried, their guides changing every so often as to keep the village hidden at all times. By the time they had finally reached the village, the sun was already beginning to set. "Thank you both for bringing us here, I will be sure you all are given proper thanks when I return to service." "If you ever need animal skins, let me know!" The two walked deeper into the village, taking in the beauty of the hard work around them. Yae was in awe to the dedication of craft here, a workforce possibly as old as her own traditions. "Do we go to anyone for your sword, or do slayers get assigned craftsmen?" "We are assigned one, only ever given new ones should the previous die. Mine still lived to my knowledge, I must find Lady Mizuki if she is still alive. We will find someone for you as well, I refuse to let you be unable to defend yourself if anything happens."

"Oh little wave, did you really think I wouldn't notice that haori as unique as or hair as wild as the crashing waves as soon as you entered the village? That mask can't disguise you from me." The duo turned around to see a middle aged woman standing over them. Her hair was as white snow, the evening sun almost making it glow as a full moon did. One of her gray eyes was exposed from her hyottoko mask, as if to get a better look at the two. Part of her Giyuu was quick to bow, but the lady was just as quick to tap him on his head with her pipe. "Little wave you need not bow, or attempt to ask for forgiveness. You have only broken one sword throughout your service and it was in a fight where you were presumed dead."

Giyuu stood up, thankful that he would be safe from a smith's wrath. "Thank you, Lady Mizuki. I plan to return to service soon, so I will be in need of a new sword." Mizuki nodded, understanding as much that a slayer without a sword is still only human. "The little wave has changed its flow, you aren't the same as before Giyuu. And I like to imagine it may just be for the better." Giyuu removed his mask to smile at her, seeing she was still as wise as ever. Tapping her pipe on his head again she looked to the girl. "Do you plan to introduce me to your friend here? I would hate to do business with a stranger." Yae removed her own mask and bowed. "My name is Yae, and I'm not an official slayer yet, but I do wish to join the fight. I was originally a matagi, but this is what I want to do now. I know I'm an outsider, but I must do this."

Mizuki smiled at her under her mask, laughing. "Not even a slayer and ready to stake your life on defending humanity? You have quite the spark. I'll handle the job of making both of your weapons, but I want you both to aid me in the process." Mizuki gestured for the two to follow, everyone quickly placing their masks back on. As they reached her private workshop, Mizuki pulled Giyuu closely. "I do not know how long you will continue to play the act of a dead man, but I can tell you it will end soon. The Love Hashira is here having her own work done. You must either reveal yourself soon, or happenstance will make you reveal yourself."