"Here it is written that you have come to seek training under me to enrol yourself into the demon corps," Tomiko told to Nezuko.
For Nezuko it was something that she has never thought. A village bumpkin fighting overly powerful demon. Is it even possible for her. Tomiko could notice her hesitance clearly on her face.
"So Umi pulled a prank on both of us, that is what I shall conclude, but" she paused for a while. "Only future demon slayers and dead bodies go down this mountain" she said menacingly.
Nezuko was scared by this sudden threat from a former hashira. She couldn't decide what to say.
"Um... but I don't know how to hold a sword. And..." Nezuko said trying to politely decline the offer.
"Don't worry I will make a fine swordswoman out of you. I have already trained two hashiras. I will shape you into a budding one too." Tomiko tried to encourage her. But Nezuko indecisiveness still cling on. Seeing this Tomiko changed her tone to a more serious one.
"You want to meet your brother, don't you? But the demons are not so welcoming to humans. If your brother has become into a Twelve Moons, then you can forget about your wish with the current state you are in. the stronger a demon the more heard it is to use human common sense. And if your brother ever becomes an Upper Moon, than swords would be a better means of communication."
There was a penetrating silence. Neither Nezuko nor Tomiko tried to break this heavy silence. It broke with a serious quarrel between two squirrels. Both of them turned toward the quarrelling squirrels.
"You are at the very moment under my guidance. You have to become a demon slayer, and that is final." Tomiko told Nezuko while pushing her index finger on to Nezuko's forehead.
Nezuko understood that resistance was futile. She strongly believed that overtime, her master her uselessness and would give up hope.
"Let me tell you about the training. First you need to develop a strong spirit, next I will develop your physical abilities and lastly, I will deem you worthy of derating only after a sword fight with me. The duration of this training will be determined by how quickly you catch up with the lessons," Tomiko explained to Nezuko.
"When will my first lesson start?" Nezuko asked.
"It will begin right now at this moment!" Tomiko said.
Nezuko sat down and crossed her legs eagerly to listen to her master.
"What are you doing, your lesson won't be delivered here. It will take place there," Tomiko pointed towards the adjacent mountain peak.
"You have to stay at that peak. During this time, you must eat and survive on your own. If you manage to survive, you pass the first test. But you cannot leave the peak until I personally visit you there" Tomiko explained everything to her.
"You mustn't delay. At night the path become very difficult to navigate. Try to reach your destination before nightfall. Now run!" she said and gave a push on Nezuko's back.
And Nezuko was running down the mountain.