Yua Tokito was only eight years old when her oldest brother Yuichiro died. With no one left but her estranged older brother Muichiro, she trains to become a demon slayer alongside him. However, due to her very young age she is kept from going to fin...
The little girl swung her sword very hard with each count. In the beginning, she had hated the training. She had had to train all day, everyday for the last three years.
999... 1000...
But where was she going wrong? It had taken her brother a mere two months to become hashira and here she was hacking away at the air three years later with nothing to show for it. Sure, she was quick and agile and a little bit strong, but all of her efforts were wasted if she couldn't even master a single breath style.
Well, maybe not entirely wasted. She thought. Shinazaguwa-sama's little brother can't use breaths either but even then he's going to the final Selection. This last thought made her sad.
She remembered how everyone had focused on her training once Muichiro had became Hashira. As his blood relative, it was natural to see her as his successor. Unfortunately that meant she had to train till her lungs nearly burst and her hands felt as if they would fall off.
Even then, even after mastering her breathing, perfecting her footwork, she still couldn't perform even a single one of the mist breathing forms.
"Why did you stop? Do you wish to rest, my child?" Came the Master's serene voice from behind.
Startled by his sudden appearance, Yua couldn't help but feel a little flustered.
"Master!" She squeaked as she tried to compose herself.
"It's quite alright. You've been overworking yourself dear child. It's okay to rest once in a while." He said with a kind smile that warmed her insides.
"Yes, sir!" She exclaimed, feeling a little self conscious.
"We've come to offer a gift in honor of you completing your training." It was then that she noticed Amane standing besides him. The woman offered Yua a kind smile as she held out her gift.
It was a midnight blue haori with a beautiful trail of stars lining the hems and edge of the sleeves.
"Lady Amane, Master, thank you." Yua expressed in gratitude as tears lined her eyes.
She bowed slightly to honor the couple who had been foster parents to her since - that dreadful day.
"But Master, I haven't mastered the breath technique." She pointed out.
"We have faith in you, dear child." The Master replied with a gentle smile. "You are stronger than you know."
This filled her heart with warmth and sadness at the same time.
I wish oni-chan was the one saying those words to me. I wish he was the one to give me words of comfort. But you barely remember me, right, Mui- ni-chan?
The sword she had was a white color. It was one of the Mist Hashira's practice blades and yet she held onto it as if she were holding onto dear life. Nowadays, it was her one true connection with her brother.
It's finally here. I'm going to the final selection. Yua thought nervously as she made her way up the mountain. Her attention was momentarily drawn to the beautiful wisteria flowers that were in full bloom around the mountain.
Wow, so pretty.
She came to an opening where numerous candidates were. She recognized two of them. Shinazaguwa Genya and Tsuruyi Kanao as they were all siblings to Hashira.
"Genya-kun! Kanao-san!" Yua called happily as she skipped happily over to them, her midnight blue haori trailed behind her, creating the illusion of shooting stars.
"Oh, they finally let you come." Genya asked with a slight blush.
The sweet innocent soul that was Yua could not even see let alone comprehend why the older boy would be so flustered. Kanao stood there like the robot she was smiling sweetly but not responding. Yua wondered if the girl was contemplating flipping a coin to decide if she would join the little chitchat or not.
"Yes! I get to join the corps and be just like oni-chan!" Yua chirped happily.
"Hm, you'd have to survive this mountain first." Genya remarked, causing Yua to sweat drop.
"Genya-kun... You... You just had to spoil the mood!" She whined loudly causing a few people to turn and look at her as if she had lost her mind.
She couldn't help but blush at the attention and with her dark turquoise tipped hair tied up in a ponytail, there was no way she could use it to shield her face either.
Lucky for her, she spotted two of Master's children as they began to address them all.
"Good evening. Tonight you've come to enter the demon slayer corp's final Selection.." The twins said at the same time.
"Thank you all for being here."
The white haired girl went on to speak.
"Here on Mt. Fujikasane, there are several demons that were captured alive by demon slayer swordsmen. They are kept here for this event."
The sisters proceeded to explain the purpose of the test. They informed every participant of final selection. Most of the information they were given was what she already knew. Demons hated a special flower called wisteria and apparently it grew about half way up the mountain.
This was, no doubt, a way to keep them trapped here whilst allowing them to be used for this particular occasion.
In order for one to become an official slayer, a participant had to survive in the forest, outside of the wisteria's protection for seven days. It would indeed be a challenge but this is what she had been training for.
"Now, your trial begins" The twins said together, bowing to them all.
For a moment Yua was frozen in place by fear.
Oni-chan, I'm scared.
She suddenly missed the comfort of her brother's estate but she forced herself to trudge on.
I made a promise to avenge you, Yui ni-chan. I will not be a scaredy cat!
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