Susamaru furled her brows in concentration; she was currently in the midst of her greatest challenge and one wrong move meant the difference between victory and utter failure… Veins popped out around her face as she continued taxing her brain for strategies to defeat the utter monster of an opponent before her. Finally, after minutes of concentration, Susamaru brought her hand down and placed moved her shogi piece to the position she desired. Her opponent's smile had not left her face throughout the game and Susamaru's latest move left her unfazed.
"That's not a bad move… except I've already won," Shinobu said as she made her final move and clenched victory.
"Dammit! I was so close this time!" Susamaru yelled as she frantically ran her claws over her scalp in frustration. She had never lost so much in a game before; currently it was 7-0 in Shinobu's favor and the demon slayer couldn't help but chuckle at Susamaru being a sore loser.
"Well, I would give you another chance to beat me but the sun is going down and I must go out on patrol. We can play again in a day or two," Shinobu said before she stood to ready herself for the night. Susamaru just slumped to the floor and pouted. With Shinobu leaving, the last of her friends wouldn't be around; Zenitsu, Kanoe and Inosuke were on Patrol, Aoi wasn't much of a friend yet and Tanjiro and Nezuko had gone off to the Swordsmith village to have the boy's blade repaired. Susamaru wanted to go with him; however, she was predictably not allowed. Even Tengen was nowhere to be found as he had gone off somewhere with his three wives. Susamaru continued pouting and groaning as Shinobu was leaving. "You can pout all you like but I can't stay… but I hear several others are returning from their patrols tonight so you may not be alone for long," Shinobu said to encourage her demon friend.
Shinobu's words caused Susamaru to sit up and stretch. Depending on who arrived, Susamaru planned to make tonight particularly productive. She had thought about how she could better help in combat and all roads came to the same answer; she needed to learn swordsmanship. Her blood demon art wasn't like Nezuko's and she didn't think it could be trained in a way to hurt demons and physical attacks like clawing, punching and kicking were useless. She didn't want to just grapple demons and she was convinced that wouldn't be a winning strategy against every demon anyway… some would be too strong for her… or have weird body quirks or blood demon arts… the only way to truly hurt demons was with a demon slayer's sword or the sun… and she didn't think she of all people would be weaponizing the sun any time soon.
Unfortunately, the path to swordsmanship was not going to be an easy one for Susamaru as it was forbidden for anyone within the core to teach her… she was hoping Shinobu may bend the rules as she and the others had helped her learn breathing techniques; however, this was something neither Shinobu, nor Kanoe would budge on… this left her with only a few options; Tanjiro, Zenitsu or Inosuke and her best option was Tanjiro; however, he had already left for who knows how long. She hoped Zenitsu or Inosuke would return tonight to help her out and so she waited impatiently for someone to arrive. The first to arrive was Kanoe who merely waved tiredly to Susamaru before retiring for some rest after her mission; Susamaru didn't want to bother the young lady who had already refused and so she continued to wait. Eventually, Inosuke and Zenitsu loudly barged in to the butterfly mansion with the latter covering his sensitive ears as the boar boy berated him. Despite knowing the two of them for a while, she still couldn't always tell why Inosuke got so heated; however, she currently didn't care as she was too eager to implement her own plans.
"Zenitsu! Inosuke!" She yelled as she ran towards them. Inosuke stopped yelling at Zenitsu and began waving excitedly as his demon friend instead.
"Susa! I beheaded a three-eyed giant demon!" Inosuke boasted as he crossed his arms and looked up to seem more dignified.
"It was a demon with one of his eyes split in half," Zenitsu clarified as he rubbed his ears.
"Shut up! I keep telling you it still counts! It was a tri-clops!" Inosuke began shouting once more.
"…" Susamaru just stood there as the hopeless idiots resumed their argument. Instead of interrupting them again, she simply picked them both up over her shoulders and began carrying them outside into the cool night air.
"Hey! Susa, put me down!" Inosuke snorted as he struggled against her grip. Zenitsu decided not to complain since he was being held by a pretty lady and decided to enjoy the moment while it lasted before Susamaru inevitably got angry at him. Susamaru continued carrying the duo of slayers until they reached the training yard. She then gently set them both down, much to both her friends' surprise.
"Oh um… I thought you were angry at us for fighting," Zenitsu said sheepishly.
"Yeah, normally you just would have plopped us on the ground," Inosuke said.
"Your argument was stupid; however, that's not why I brought you out here," Susamaru began to explain. "I need your help-"
"Anything for you Susa-chan!" Zenitsu interrupted. He thought she may be coming around to his charms after all this time since she had been more gentle and now needed his help!
"Riiiight, you need to calm down first," Susamaru said with a deadpan expression. Zenitsu proceeded to reign himself in a bit as he listened to what she had to ask. "Alright, you guys know that I haven't been as helpful on missions right?"
"Uh… no?" Inosuke replied.
"What do you mean no?! I haven't killed a single demon since I started helping everyone!" Susamaru vented.
"So? You've helped plenty, several people wouldn't be alive right now without your help Susa-chan," Zenitsu said more seriously.
"… drop the 'chan' Zen," Susamaru replied before continuing, "it's not enough." Susamaru clenched her fists as she spoke. "I was a monster for decades… and now I finally care about people again… I have to protect them… that includes you dolts," Susamaru finished as she looked at her friends with a vulnerable look they had rarely seen.
"What do you need then?" Inosuke asked as he gave her his full attention and Zenitsu merely nodded in agreement.
"I know it's forbidden but… I would like to learn swordsmanship… please teach me," Susamaru asked while clapping her hands and bowing her head in a begging gesture.
"Woah, Susa… that's a big ask. We would be breaking the code," Zenitsu answered as he rubbed the back of his head. "Besides… I'm not much of a teacher… I only know one form of lightning breathing… out of six," Zenitsu said disappointed with himself. He had taught Tanjiro the one form he knew; however, he wasn't sure Tanjiro even understood his lesson with how much he fumbled it. He also knew that Susamaru needed the basics first… and he was so bad at those he felt incapable of helping her.
Inosuke stood silent for a moment before walking off. Susamaru was disappointed by their answers and realized she'd have to wait for Tanjiro… and there was no guarantee he would teach her either… especially with his own self esteem issues like Zenitsu; however, before she could further sadden herself, a piece of wood smacked her squarely in the face. As the wood fell to the floor, she realized it was a training sword! Susamaru looked up stunned as Inosuke had an armful of training swords and threw more at her.
"I-Inosuke! What are you doing?!" Zenitsu asked surprised.
"Teaching her swordsmanship! She asked to learn and I'll beat that knowledge into her!" Inosuke yelled triumphantly. Susamaru beamed as she picked up six training swords and made what she thought was a ready stance.
"B-but Inosuke, w-what about the code?" Zenitsu whimpered.
"Code schmode! She asked for help, we help. That's what friends do," Inosuke said as he reflected on all the times Tanjiro had helped him.
"W-we?!" Zenitsu asked with fright before Inosuke threw a training sword at him too.
"Yes, we," Inosuke confirmed as he picked up two training swords. Zenitsu still had serious reservations; however, Susamaru looked at him with pleading eyes and he finally relented and agreed to help train her. It was a good thing too… as Inosuke's approach was simply to spar until she understood what she was doing… which didn't go well for the first couple nights they practiced. Susamaru didn't really learn anything other than swinging six swords around didn't really improve her fighting capabilities on their own. She had no technique so she would often trip herself up with her stray "blades". Additionally, when it came time for cutting practice… Inosuke's swords were poor teaching implements for her. His swords rended through flesh fine; however, this was because of his technique rather than the blades themselves. Zenitsu's sword was in perfect condition and he allowed her to borrow it to practice the basics Inosuke was trying to drill into her.
As time went on, Susamaru finally began to grasp some things… and her enhanced demonic strength allowed her to get by even though her form was far from perfect. Still, while her ability to cut through static targets improved… her training with Inosuke did not as he knocked her to the ground every time with his relentless two-sword style. Zenitsu never sparred with her; instead he tried to encourage and coach her from the sidelines. Eventually, the three of them decided it may be best for her to drop some swords rather than trying to invent a new six-sword style for her biology. She then began to mimic Inosuke's two-sword style and made a fair bit more progress… although she was still beaten into the ground by the style's master several times.
"You're not putting enough strength into your swings! They're too easy to block and then I can strike back!" Inosuke illustrated as he thrusted one of his training swords into her throat.
Susamaru coughed and sputtered as she fell to the ground once more. She was becoming increasingly frustrated with Inosuke's teaching style; and the feeling was mutual for her teacher.
"Stop with the wimpy baby hits! Training doesn't mean holding back!"
"I'm not holding back! I'm hitting you as hard as I can!"
"No! I've seen you hit things hard-" Inosuke cut himself off as he realized what the problem was. "... are you using your breathing as you're swinging?"
"Uh…" Susamaru had no reply as she realized she wasn't. She was focusing so much on swordplay that she forgot the reason a demon slayer's swordplay was so powerful in the first place.
"That's your problem! You're not combining the things you've been learning. They aren't separate! Use the breathing Tanjiro and Shinobu taught you with the sword things Zenitsu and I have been drilling into you."
"R-right!" Susamaru exclaimed as she stood up again. As they continued to spar, Inosuke was pleased to see they were on a more even playing field; her technique was still amateurish but her demonic strength and speed amplified by breathing were helping make up for her inexperience. In fact, Inosuke was even starting to struggle a bit; however, he was still far and away the better swordsman and he made this known by taking advantage of an opening to clock Susamaru in the chin with his training sword.
"Heh heh, ha ha! I win again!" Inosuke cheered as he danced around his friend who had fallen over again.
"Inosuke, this is training, not a competition," Zenitsu reminded as he went to help Susamaru up.
"Huh? Oh… yeah, oops," Inosuke said as he realized he got carried away since the sparring match felt more like an actual fight that time.
"Ow…" Susamaru complained as she rubbed her chin. It didn't hurt that badly but she wanted Inosuke to feel bad regardless. She wanted to chew out Inosuke for the walloping; however, before she could, the trio heard the sound of a cart wheeling towards them. Curiosity compelled the group to exit the butterfly mansion's fence to meet whoever was visiting. Much to their delight, it was one of the kakushi pulling Tanjiro and Nezuko; both of whom were asleep.
"Careful! Don't crowd around them, Tanjiro is pretty injured," the kakushi warned.
"Injured?! He was just going to check on his sword, what happened?" Susamaru asked.
"Unbelievable, he's gone for a week and comes back like this… how is that even possible?" Zenitsu said as he echoed Susamaru's confusion.
"Well I wouldn't have believed what happened myself if the hashira hadn't confirmed it," the kakushi admitted somberly. "The swordsmith village was attacked by two of the upper moons!"
"Two?!" Inosuke yelled. "Which ones?! Was it the one that killed Rengoku?! I'll pulverize him!"
"Inosuke! Calm down and let him explain," Zenitsu said as he gestured to the boar boy to lower his energy.
"I don't think so, the reports said it was upper moon three who killed Rengoku-san… the ones that attacked the village were apparently the fourth and fifth," the kakushi informed.
"'Were'?" Susamaru asked. She was intrigued by the use of past tense and was hopeful.
"Yup, 'were'. The hashira, Genya and Tanjiro worked together to kill them both!" The Kakushi stated triumphantly.
"Woohoo!" Susamaru shouted. Zenitsu let out a cheer in agreement. Inosuke, on the other hand, was slightly disappointed, not because two powerful demons had perished, but because he wished he had been there to fight them as well. Susamaru patted him on the head and reassured him that he would get his chance.
With that the conversation began to die down and the trio allowed the kakushi to deliver Tanjiro and Nezuko to the infirmary. The story of Tanjiro's victory still fresh in their minds, the group decided to head back to the training ground to continue Susamaru's lessons; however, once they arrived they were greeted by a most unwelcoming sight… Shinobu stood where they had been training with a smile that did not reach her eyes. In fact, one of said eyes was twitching in palpable anger.
"Uh oh," Inosuke said as he hid behind Susamaru. Not many people scared him… but Shinobu was close to the top of the list when she was angry. Zenitsu also decided to hide and darted behind Inosuke, leaving poor Susamaru to face the insect hashira's wrath first.
"Some great friends you guys are! Why are you hiding behind me," Susamaru asked just as nervous as the two of them.
"B-because you're the toughest!" Zenitsu replied although this got him a look of annoyance from Inosuke who always boasted he was the strongest and toughest one of all. Despite this, he decided not to argue this time… Susamaru would make a better shield than him… since she could regenerate… at least that's how he justified his own cowardice to himself.
"Susamaru…" Shinobu began with a somewhat sing-song tone. "What have you been up to the past few nights," Shinobu asked.
"Eh heh heh… um… training?" Susamaru answered. Although it was technically true, she knew Shinobu had caught on to their antics and began to sweat nervously.
"I can see that," Shinobu said as she gestured towards several broken training swords and several cut pieces of practice bamboo. "Zenitsu… Inosuke, care to explain yourselves?" Shinobu asked turning her gaze towards the two cowering swordsmen.
"Um… no?" Inosuke said meekly. He truly didn't want to explain himself for fear of a worse punishment.
Shinobu let out a frustrated sigh and began pinching the bridge of her nose. "All three of you are aware that it is forbidden for demons to learn swordsmanship, correct?" The three of them nodded. "Then that means you also know it is forbidden to teach demons our secrets, correct?" The trio nodded again. "Then why are you doing expressly what I warned you not to do?!" Shinobu reprimanded.
The group of friends slumped to the ground, each looking like guilty children who were about to confess their misdeeds to their mother. Susamaru decided to explain herself first and told Shinobu everything that had gone through her head when deciding to ask her friends to break their taboo. She even asked the hashira to only punish her; however, Inosuke and Zenitsu stood up and wouldn't let that happen as they remembered what happened the last time she was punished.
Shinobu sighed once more before she asked Susamaru alone to come with her. Zenitsu and Inosuke protested; however, one glare was enough for both of them to relent and instead simply hope that their friend would return in one piece. Susamaru gulped as she followed Shinobu into a deeper chamber of the butterfly mansion and tensed as they passed by the staircase of the basement; a room Susamaru was all too familiar with. The demon couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh as they continued without going down the stairs and instead arrived at a large room in the middle of the mansion. The room had training equipment and various swords on the wall. Shinobu instructed Susamaru to take as many as she liked and make a ready stance. Susamaru was baffled; however, she complied and took two swords off the wall. Shinobu then took the thinnest and lightest blade for herself.
"I want you to show me everything they taught you, I must know how many of our secrets they revealed," Shinobu said as she commanded Susamaru to charge at her. Susamaru did as she was instructed and attacked; however, Shinobu was fast and quickly disarmed her.
"Woah!" Susamaru was stunned by her friend's impressive speed before Shinobu stabbed her with her thin sword. "Youch!" Susamaru yelped as she clutched at her stomach near where the blade struck; however, she noticed that she wasn't bleeding and looked at Shinobu in confusion.
"What's with the surprised look? These are training swords, they aren't sharp for a reason," Shinobu clarified to which Susamaru nodded in understanding. "Now pick your swords back up! I know you weren't practicing for long but they must have taught you something!" Shinobu yelled as she readied herself once more. Susamaru picked her swords back up again and they continued their sparring session. Shinobu's speed gave her an immense advantage; however, Susamaru remembered all the times Inosuke had disarmed her and knew how to counter such a maneuver. Susamaru continued to keep hold of her blades but did receive a few bruises for her troubles.
After two hours, Shinobu finally relented. "Well it seems those two aren't as terrible of teachers as I thought… either that or you're a good student," Shinobu said with a wink.
"Wait… you aren't actually angry are you?" Susamaru realized as she panted from having to keep up with the hashira for so long.
"Well I wouldn't say that. You did disobey me, and your friends willingly broke our taboos… but it's not as if I particularly dislike the idea of you learning swordsmanship. Really I just wish you were more discreet about it. All of us could be severely punished if the other hashira or the master discovered your training… so please use this room instead so Kanoe and I can give you warning to stop before someone catches you," Shinobu said with a sincere smile.
Susamaru was touched by Shinobu's willingness to help and quickly wrapped the other woman in a hug before agreeing. Shinobu reciprocated the hug before going back to business, "that being said, there is really not much a way for you to get any nichirin swords of your own… I suppose you could borrow some spares or pick up a fallen slayer's but either will get you immediately caught."
"Oh… I hadn't really thought of that detail… I forgot how special the demon slaying swords really are," Susamaru said as she pondered her options.
"They are indeed, that's why you were forbidden from going with Tanjiro to the village. The secrecy of the blades must be kept at all cost; perhaps even more so than our swordsmanship or breathing techniques," Shinobu lectured. "With all this said, if you ever find yourself in a position to use the techniques you are learning, remember that it may cost you your life if you are caught. If your resolve is that strong then have Zenitsu and Inosuke train with you here starting tomorrow," Shinobu finished as she placed her training sword on the wall and began to leave.
"I understand," Susamaru affirmed before replacing her own training swords and following the insect pillar out.