While Tanjuro was on his way to the Swordsmith Village, Sanemi was heading to Mount Fujikasane. He tried to focus on what he was doing, but his thoughts kept drifting back to his family. He hadn't seen them for a year now, except for when he went to advocate for his Dad and his Demons at their trial. Sanemi couldn't help but wonder how long it would be before he could see everyone again. 'Everyone. I will survive this! And then I'll come see you all!' the white-haired boy thought in determination. Upon reaching the mountain, the oldest Shinazugawa looked around at all of the other participants. Many of them were teenage boys around his age.
'I'm sure most, if not all of these people have lost their families to Demons. My family was so lucky that Dad was there at just the right time, otherwise we'd probably all be dead right now' the white-haired teen thought. He gripped his Sword. He wasn't nervous. But, still, what was this bad feeling that he had? "Hey!" an older voice called. Sanemi looked up at an older boy sneering down at him. "What's wrong?" he asked. "This isn't a place for kids! Why don't you go home before you get hurt brat?" the young man said. Sanemi raised an eyebrow. "Really? I didn't know that this was a place for immature bullies. Why don't you go home before you die" he replied seriously.
The bullies eyes widened at the sight of Sanemi's glare, before he grit his teeth, and grabbed the younger boy's Haori, "why you-!" he growled, before a hand on his shoulder stopped him. "What-!" the bully began, before the hand spun him around and a fist punched him in the face. "This young man here is right! This isn't the place to be fighting amongst ourselves like children! We need to be focused on how we're going to survive the next week, then the Missions to come after that! If you aren't prepared to grow up and risk your life, then I suggest you go home like the young man suggested" the 13-year-old boy replied firmly.
The teen with the bloody nose stood up and growled in anger, "why you!-" he began before he was cut off by two younger children speaking up, ""Welcome" the twins said in unison. "Tonight, you've come to enter the Demon Slayer Corps Final Selection. Thank you all for being here" they said. Sanemi recognised the twin white-haired girls as two of the Master's Daughters. Kiriya wasn't here this time it seemed. "Here on Mount Fujikasane, there are several Demons that were captured alive by Demon Slayer Swordsmen." The white-haired girl began to explain, "they are kept here for this event" she continued. "The Wisteria blossoms prevent them from leaving. They bloom on this mountain year 'round. And they cover everything, from the bottom, to halfway to the top" her twin Sister explained.
"But the Wisteria ends here, so Demons abound from this point on." The first whit-haired girl continued. "In order to complete Final Selection, you must survive for Seven days outside the Wisteria's protection." The other twin said. "Now, your trial, begins" they said in unison, bowing and letting them inside the forests. Sanemi took a deep breath and grabbed onto his sword's sheath, ready to pull it out at anytime. 'Here I go!' he thought in determination.
Ң
As he ran through the trees, Sanemi noticed the black-haired 13-year-old running beside him. The teen flashed him a smile that reminded him of Tanjiro's. 'Focus Sanemi. You can think about big Brother later!' he thought to himself. After an hour of running, Sanemi managed to find a sheltered spot within some tree roots and he slid down into the hole. The Shinazugawa-Kamado knew that he didn't have his Older Brother's sense of smell, or their Dad's Demonic senses. But he had always been good at sensing when something bad was coming. It was like he could feel the air-currents around him, and sense what was on those currents.
That's how he always knew when that old Bastard was coming home, and how he had been able to sense that something was wrong with him that night. If their Dad hadn't turned up when he had, they'd all have died then, he was sure of it. Sanemi thought about his options; 'Alright. Judging from what I can feel, there are three Demons nearby. Two are busy fighting each other, so I should be able to get them easy enough, but the third one seems to be moving around a lot more carefully. Should I go after that one first, in case it's a smart Demon? Or get the two who are distracted?' Suddenly he felt a human form crash into his tree and slide inside.
"Hey!" Sanemi hissed, frantically trying to adjust himself while making as little noise as possible so they could both fit inside the small area. The other boy opened his mouth to say something in reply, only to have his mouth covered by the white-haired boy. "Sssshhhhhhh!" Sanemi hissed lowly. Suddenly a person ran, crashing through the trees. It was a young woman who was being chased by a Demon. She screamed as the Demon pounced on her and began ripping her apart. Sanemi clenched his teeth against the nausea building up inside him, while the other teen covered his mouth with his hands, to keep himself from vomiting.
Finally the Demon seemed distracted enough, so Sanemi slipped out of the tree and raised his sword, 'Wind Breathing, Fourth Form: Cold Mountain Wind!' he thought, as he brought his Sword around and lashes of wind burst out and tore at the Demon's body. As it cried out in pain, the black-haired Demon Slayer Trainee leapt forwards, "Water Breathing-First Form: Water Surface Slash!" he cried, a faint image of a blade of water manifesting as he cut off the Demons Head. As Sanemi turned to look at him, the boy chuckled and rubbed the back of his head, "sorry if you didn't want me stealing your kill" the teen said sheepishly.
He smiled, "I guess I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Masachika Kumeno. You're pretty strong!" Masachika introduced himself cheerfully. "Sanemi Shinazugawa-Kamado" the white-haired teen replied. "Hah! That's an interesting name! It's nice to meet ya!" the black-haired teenager said with a grin. And so, that was how the two met.
Ң
As the week passed, the two teens worked together to fight of Demons as well as gather provisions. They also talked about their families. Sanemi frowned upon learning that Masachika's only remaining family, his younger Brother had been killed by the same Demon that gave him his scars. "I'm glad that your family was saved by that Demon Slayer Sanemi. And I'm glad that he adopted you and loves all of you so much" the other Teen said with a smile. The white-haired teen looked down, "I'm sorry about your Brother too. Really, we were lucky that Dad came along when he did and saved us from that Bastard. Mom probably wouldn't have lasted much longer if he hadn't.
And then we'd all have been killed too" Sanemi replied. Masachika placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "You all deserve to be safe and loved. I'm glad that you have that now" he replied. Suddenly Sanemi tensed, his head snapping up. "There's a Demon" he whispered, grabbing hold of his Sword's handle. A rabid-looking Demon leapt out of the forest with a snarl, before Sanemi sliced it apart quickly. "Man, how do you know they're there so fast?" the black-haired teen asked in amazement. "I can sense things within wind currents, including what kind of creature it is. That's how I know when a Demon is nearby" Sanemi explained. Masachika looked at him with stars in his eyes, before hugging him, "you are so cool Shinazugawa! Ah! I mean Kamado! I mean-!" he stuttered, fumbling over the last name. Sanemi smiled slightly and let out a huff of laughter, "just call me Sanemi, it'll be easier." He replied with a small smile.
"Okay! Then you can call me by my first name too! I hope we can be good friends!" the other teen replied with a grin.