Over the next two years, Tanjiro's training became more and more intense. The traps went from dangerous to deadly, but he didn't complain. Every day he left for training, and every night he returned to sleep with his family. None of his Siblings had woken up from their sleep, but the teen figured after everything they went through, including nearly dying and fighting the Demon King, they all deserved as much sleep as they could get.
His Mother occasionally woke up to check on all of them, before falling back to sleep with Rokuta in her arms. When he wasn't training or sleeping, Tanjiro spent time either sitting with his family in the dark house or writing a journal for them all. Urokodaki had told him that most Demon's didn't remember their human lives very well, if at all. So Tanjiro wrote down important things, and normal things that had happened before they had been turned into Demons.
He also chronicled everything that had happened to them after they'd been turned, from the heart-racing battle with Muzan, to their journey here and his training. He was sure that once everything was over, and they had all become human again, they would want to know what had happened since they were turned. And just like that, two years passed.
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Urokodaki looked the 15-year-old up and down. Tanjiro had certainly gotten stronger during his training. His muscles were practically bulging, and his hair was now down to his waist. He nodded, "alright. Are you ready for your final test Tanjiro?" the older man asked. 'I am" Tanjiro replied firmly. "Alright, follow me" he said, standing up and leading the teen out of the house. Before he left his Mother patted him on the head. Tanjiro smiled at her and down at his sleeping Siblings before following his trainer out of the house.
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Tanjiro was led further into the mountain, before they stopped at a huge boulder in a clearing. "If you can cut this boulder in half, I'll allow you to enter the Final Selection" Urokodaki explained. "I understand. I might be here for a while. Please take care of my family while I'm gone" Tanjiro replied seriously. As Urokodaki left the clearing, Tanjiro focused on the boulder. He was so close to beginning his journey to find a cure for his family.
After two years of grueling training, that felt like it would be the death of him many times, here he was. The only things standing in his way were this boulder and the Final Selection. Tanjiro gripped his sword and took a deep breath, 'Total Concentration, Water-Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!' he thought, as his sword became enveloped in water and sliced through the stone like butter. There was a moment's pause, before the giant rock split in two.
Tanjiro let out a breath and sheathed his sword. Before he could leave, a voice called out to him from the mist surrounding the area: "well done Tanjiro. Keep winning. For our sake as well as your family's". The teenager looked around in confusion, sniffing the air. But there was no scent to be found. No people either. After a moment, Tanjiro adjusted his Sword on his hip and descended the mountain. Ready to see his family again.
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As he walked back to the house at the foot of the mountain, snow started to fall. Tanjiro looked up at the sky. It was strange that it hadn't snowed at all last year. They'd had rainstorms instead. But now that he'd completed his training it started snowing. It reminded him of that night two years ago, when his whole life had changed. Tanjiro thought about how it so easily could have changed for the worse, but by some miracle, not only had his whole family survived, but none of them ate humans, so they could all live.
The more he thought about it, the luckier he felt. Urokodaki, who was a retired Demon Slayer had told him horror stories about how those events often went, and what Demon Slayers had to do to people's surviving family members if their loved ones had become Demons. So for his whole family to have the same temperament was nothing less than a miracle. More than once had he cried joyful tears and thanked Kami and Hinokami for saving his family.
And he'd also had nightmares where he'd come home to find his family dead, none of them having become Demons. Or ones where Muzan had killed him, or turned him too, and he and his family went down to the Village, and- Tanjiro shook his head. 'That didn't happen so stop thinking about it! It won't do you any good!' he told himself firmly. Finally he made it back to his Teacher's house. "I'm back everyone!" he called.
All of his Siblings dog-piled him to the ground, all mumbling at him. Tanjiro lit up, "you're awake! I'm so glad you're all okay!" he said, starting to sob in relief. Kie walked up then and pulled her oldest Son into a hug, humming softly. She stroked back his long hair with a gentle touch and Tanjiro practically melted into her embrace. He knew he had a long road ahead still, but tonight he just wanted to relax. Urokodaki walked up then. "So you cut it?" he asked. Tanjiro nodded, as his Siblings crowded him for hugs.
The man reached out and pat him on the head, "well done Tanjiro. Truly, remarkable. I'm very proud" he said. Tanjiro laughed slightly as Urokodaki ruffled his long hair.
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That night after dinner, Kie brushed her Oldest Son's hair back into a long ponytail. It had taken a while, but his Mother had worked hard to be able to look after her children again. "Tanjiro, how did you like your meal?" Urokodaki asked, as he pulled a coat matching his own out of a cupboard. "It was great! I've never had so much food before!" Tanjiro replied, glancing out the window as his Siblings played in the snow. After becoming Demons, the cold didn't seem to bother them anymore.
"A growing boy like you will get bigger and stronger, the bigger his meals are. But the same applies to Demons. The more people they eat, the stronger they'll become" Urokodaki explained. Tanjiro frowned, "but then, my family-?" he asked. "Yes, your family are all very unique. To be so powerful after just being turned, and while not eating humans is a circumstance I have never seen before. However, due to observation, I have concluded that your family recovers their strength by sleeping, instead of consuming human flesh.
And to be able to push Muzan Kibutsuji into a corner the way they did in incredible. I believe that your family might be the key to ending that monster once and for all" Urokodaki replied. "Wow" Tanjiro breathed, shocked at his family's strength. Well, he'd seen it himself, hadn't he? Urokodaki then pulled out a white fox mask with a red sun painted where his scar was. "Here, this is for you. I carved it myself. It's called a Warding Mask. It's got a protection spell on it, to make sure you come home safely. Your family will be waiting here for you Tanjiro.
No matter what, you can't die in there" the older man said seriously. "Of course. I always planned to come back for them" Tanjiro replied. Urokodaki said nothing, but he of all people knew, that just because someone planned to come back from Final Selection, didn't mean they would.
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Tanjiro went to bed with his family that night as usual, his Siblings sleeping around him and his Mother holding Rokuta in her arms. 'Don't worry everyone. I swear I'll turn you all back into humans soon. I'll find a cure, or make one myself if I have to. I don't care how long it takes, I will make you human again' he thought, before falling asleep. Tanjiro had nightmares, as he did most nights, of his family laying dead around him, and that man, Muzan. His burning red eyes. He woke up with a start to Hanako and Shigeru snuggling into his arms. Urokodaki had told him that Demon's were naturally cold, but not his family. They all gave off heat like small furnaces.
Tanjiro sighed and hugged his Siblings close. Rokuta made a noise and clutched onto his Kimono top with one tiny clawed hand. Tanjiro once again drifted off to sleep.
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The next day Tanjiro got dressed and hugged each member of his family goodbye. "I'll be back in a week Mom. I will come back" he assured. His Mother hugged him close, before they watched him leave the house. Urokodaki met him outside the door, "I promise I'll take care of your family for you while you're gone" he assured. "Thank you. I really appreciate everything you've done for us Urokodaki. I'll see you when I get back" Tanjiro said gratefully. The masked man nodded. As he left the house, Tanjiro swore he would come back for his family.
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The oldest Kamado Son travelled down the road towards Mount Fujikasane. Tanjiro gripped the sword that Urokodaki had lent him for the Final Selection. Apparently he would get his own Sword after he passed the Final Selection. He hoped his Siblings would be okay without him there. He knew their Mother was with them, but still. He had never been apart from them for so long! He just had to keep telling himself the positive side of things. Soon, he would be a Demon Slayer, and be able to start looking for a cure for his family.
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After arriving, Tanjiro found two children, one young boy with shoulder-length black hair and one girl the same age with white-hair. The Children explained the Final Selection process, and the examinees were let lose on the mountain. Tanjiro ran through the trees. 'My goal in becoming a Demon Slayer is to find a cure for my family. And I won't let anything stop me. Everyone is waiting for me back at Urokodaki's. I have to survive here and become a Demon Slayer, no matter what!' Tanjiro thought.
'Once the sun comes up the Demons will have to hide. That'll be my chance to forage for food and water and get some rest. So I should head East, to where the sunlight will hit first!' Suddenly two Demons emerged from the trees. Tanjiro drew his Sword, 'Water-Breathing, Forth Form: Striking Tide!' he sliced off both Demon's with one move, who then quickly disintegrated into ash. Hearing a cry nearby, Tanjirio raced to save a teen boy from two other Demons.
'Water-Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel!' Then a girl and a boy. 'Water-Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!' as Tanjiro landed back on the ground, he sniffed the air. His eyes snapped open, and he rushed away. 'That scent! It's the strongest one here! It's eaten dozens of humans!' he thought worriedly. A huge multi-armed Dmon moved into view through the trees as it chased a boy with a mow-hawk and a purple Kimono top over his black clothes. As it reached for the teen, Tanjiro shot in and sliced the Demon's arms off.
The Demon glanced back at him, before shooting three of it's arms at Tanjiro. The Kamado jumped out of the way. 'Water-Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!' he thought as he sliced off more of his arms. Tanjiro glared angrily at the Hand Demon, who flinched at the teen's furious look. 'Water-Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!' in the blink of an eye, the Hand Demon's head was flying through the air and Tanjiro landed on the forest floor. 'What? What just-?' the Demon thought, before his eyes widened at seeing his body start to disintegrate. 'Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! How did he kill me so quickly and easily?! What kind of monster is he?!'
Then the Demon caught sight of the mask on the side of Tanjiro's head, 'he's one of Urokodaki's! Don't tell me I lost so quickly to one of Urokodaki's brats! Just like when he captured me 47 years ago! Damn it! After everything, this is where it's going to end? And that Demon Slayer's face is the last thing I'll see!' he bemoaned. Tanjiro turned to look down at him. 'This scent is so sad. Is he, remembering his past?' he wondered with wide, sad eyes. This was the first Demon he'd fought that had remembered his past as a human.
Tanjiro walked towards his crumbling body and took the Demon's outstretched hand. 'God, please. Help him. The next time this person is reborn, please don't let him become a Demon again' he thought, as he held the hand close. Tears dripped down the Demon's crumbling head, before it fully faded away. After that, Tanjiro took a deep breath and hurried off through the forest. As he did, he caught sight of a cackling teen who was topless and had a boars head on over his. He was chasing down a fleeing Demon like an animal.
'What was that?' Tanjiro wondered in confusion. He shook his head, he had to stay focused. He still had almost 7 days here. He ran through the trees in the direction of another Demon Slayer trainee.
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After the seven days were up, Tanjiro, along with all the other Demon Slayers regrouped in front of the forest. The black and white-haired twins congratulated them on surviving and explained about what would happen next. They would get measured for their new Uniforms, which would get delivered with their new Swords. And speaking of their Swords. "You will now choose the Ore which will be used to forge your blade." The black-haired boy said. Tanjiro looked over the lumps of iron, then he sniffed. His eyes widened. One of them smelled more like sunlight than the others. He stepped forwards and picked it up.
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"Your swords will take 10-15 days to complete. Your Uniforms will be completed and delivered in 5 days. Until your Swords are done, please take this time to rest and recover". The white-haired girl had explained. Tanjiro panted as he travelled back to Mt Sagiri. He was a Demon Slayer now. Once he started his Missions, he could begin to look for a cure for his family.
Speaking of his family, he had finally arrived back at Urokodaki's house. Suddenly everyone burst through the front wall of the house. His Mother was the first one to run to him and wrap her arms around him. Tanjiro gripped onto her and burst into tears. Nezuko was next, then Shigeru and Hanako, and Rokuta threw himself into his Oldest Brother's arms. Takeo gripped Tanjiro's hand. The grey-haired Demon boy looked unbothered, but Tanjiro could smell the relief radiating off of him.
He smiled tearfully and reached out to pat Takeo on the head. His little Brother grumbled, but that was all. Urokodaki walked over to the family, before letting out a deep breath, "you really came back" he said faintly, suddenly sounding his age for once. "Of course I did. I said I would after all" Tanjiro replied, still crying. They all spent a while just huddled together in front of Urokodaki's house, until the sun started to rise and the Kamado's went inside to sleep.
The masked man stared at his broken wall, "what am I going to with this?" he grumbled.
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That night, while his Siblings were playing outside, Tanjiro told Urokodaki about his Final Selection. Upon learning that the Hand Demon had been killed, the man radiated relief. Upon seeing Tanjiro's curiosity, Urokodaki explained that he had captured that Demon years ago, and it had been killing his Students ever since out of revenge. Tanjiro clenched his fists, "I see. Then I'm glad I could put all their spirits to rest at least" he replied.
Urokodaki nodded, before standing up, "you should take some time to rest. Once you get your Sword, you'll be starting Missions" he explained. "Okay, thank you" Tanjiro said, before standing up. He looked at the door, as Hanako and Shigeru stared at him from the open doorway. He smiled, "do you want to play?" he asked. The young Demon's cheered wordlessly, before racing forwards to grab onto him and pull their Older Brother outside.