After killing the demon we made our way back, taking a short break at a food stall selling ohagi ( a dessert made of rice and red bean paste).
We were both sat down on the circular wooden seats and the vendor gave us a concerned look as he handed our sweets.
"Are you boys alright?"
"Why wouldn't we be?"
Well, I guess we do look a bit messy thanks to our injuries.
"Oh I see! Sanemi you're arm is leaking quite a bit."
"You're one to talk, look at yourself."
"Huh?"
When I looked down I realised that I had a big gash across my chest.
"When did I get that again?"
"Ahh, who cares? It will heal on its own, let's just continue the training at the dojo after we finish eating."
When we returned to the dojo a few days later and slid the door open, Masachika greeted us.
"Hey! You guys are ba—"
But he suddenly paused, walked towards us with his face darkened and grabbed our shoulders with a menacing smile .
"What's wrong?"
"Seriously?! What are you two doing here without getting your injuries treated!"
"Oh those injuries? It's just a few scrapes?"
"Kousei! I thought you would be a good influence on him but I thought wrong. I'm taking you guys to the Butterfly Mansion right now!"
…
"Ah, What a surprise, It's you two from the final selection."
A pair of violet eyes, almost iridescent, looked at us with a concerned gaze.
Masachika forcibly dragged us into the examination room, frightening some of the kakushi who walked around the manor.
There was an awkward air in the room.
As Sanemi and I both sat silently while our wounds got treated.
Exuding a sinister aura around him, scaring the kakushi bandaging his arm was Sanemi, still furious that he was dragged over here because of a simple cut on his arm.
But for me — it was a completely different reason.
I was sat on the bed shirtless, as a beautiful girl examined my wounds.
I mean, what man wouldn't be embarrassed?
She applied disinfectant with practiced efficiency and wrapped my chest in bandages.
"Almost done!" she said with a supple smile, "Forgive my lack of experience, I just started out here recently and I enjoy helping others out."
Her fingers are so soft…
I zoned out and honestly wasn't listening to her, so I just looked down out of embarrassment.
Don't blame me! Its not my fault I have no experience with girls!
"I guess you don't like to talk much."
She then put her hand to my forehead.
"Hmm? Why are you so flushed? did you get a fever from your wound?
It's because of you! You idiot!
"Uh, what? No it's fine."
Kanae slumped her head down a bit dejectedly.
"I'm sorry if you're upset about what I said during the final selection."
Is she really hung up over what she said to me?
"Huh? Why would I be upset? I can't even recall what you said."
"Oh…"
"How about this! Since we all passed the final selection together, how about you introduce yourselves."
I already know her name but I guess I'll play along.
"My name's Kousei Hayashi and that mean looking guy is Shinazugawa Sanemi."
"I see, my name's Kanae Kocho and I have a feeling I'll have to tend to you guys very often, so you can just call me Kanae."
I got up and put the demon slayer outfit over my freshly bandaged chest.
"Thanks for fixing us up Kanae. But I think it's time we go. Follow me Sanemi!"
"Tsk! Don't order me around!"
"…Why are you following me then?"
"Because there's only one exit! Why are you so annoying?!"
"Pfft! You guys are such good friends, stay safe hunting demons you two."
"Who are you calling friends lady!"
…
Clatter!
Two wooden training swords struck one another, causing one to get hurled across the dojo.
After being made to recover for a few weeks, Masachika finally allowed us to train again.
"Don't look so smug! Let's go another round I'll beat you this time!"
"Sanemi don't be a sore loser, Kousei beat you in sparring three times."
"He's right, now that we're done sparring, teach me more of your wind breathing forms."
"Fine! But promise to spar me again after."
After a few hours of training.
Wind Breathing Third Form: Clear Storm Wind Tree
I swung my sword, unleashing a whirlwind around my body.
It can simultaneously defend me from incoming attacks and slice up my enemies.
Clap Clap Clap
"That's impressive Kousei! You're a quick learner!"
"It's all thanks to my teacher."
"Hmph! Your technique is still sloppy."
"What?! Seriously?"
Sanemi had managed to teach me the wind breathing forms one through to three. It's still imperfect but I can polish it with time.
It was made easier since I had mastered the breathing technique but the attacks themselves are quite complex.
The only reason I could beat Sanemi in sparring earlier is because I mastered the fundamentals in swinging the sword.
Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
"IS THAT BASTARD KOUSEI IN THERE!"
"Who's that at the door? And why is he so upset with you Kousei?"
"Uh oh… I think Haganezuka is here to give me my new sword."
BANG!
Before I could run away, the door was
slammed open revealing the masked menace, his rolled up sleeves revealed his tensed forearms as he stormed into the dojo.
Yeah… so I decided to make a break for it.
"Aah! Please forgive me! I'm sorry! It's all my fault!"
Haganezuka chased me around the dojo until Masachika finally held him back.
After being restrained by Masachika and venting out all his rage by hurling insults at me, he reluctantly handed me the new blade.
I unsheathed it from the lacquered scabbard, staring at the eye gazing back at me through the reflection of the freshly polished blade.
"This is some really good craftsmanship, thank you Haganezuka."
"Of course it is! Don't think flattering me will make me forget! Don't ever break my sword again!"
"I'll try my hardest."
Now that I have my blade again, I can't help myself, I have to fight a demon.
But my Kasugai crow isn't giving me any missions, so I have to take things into my own hands.
"Masachika, Sanemi, thank you for letting me stay at the dojo for all these days. I'm going to leave to go on a short sight seeing trip… to Mount Natagumo."
"What? You should be a full time demon slayer, instead of sight seeing how about you train!"
"Don't worry Sanemi, this is part of my training."
I tightened the white sash around my waist and left the dojo.
"Kousei! You're welcome to train here any time!" Masachikas's voice faded from the distance as he waved at me.
And so I set off towards mount Natagumo, from my memory this was where the lower moon five Rui was located. But since I'm in the era before the start of the series, he may not even be one of the twelve kizuki yet.
I guess I'll have to see when I make it there.
Three Days Later
A cool breeze brushed against my skin, the dense forestation that climbed to the peak of the mountain swayed and crickets chirped loudly.
I looked at the path at the foot of the mountain, the sides were overgrown in a crowd of shrubs and grass. The moonlight failed to penetrate the leaves casting a eerie shadow.
"This place looks a lot worse than I imagined."
My foot crunched on the loose twigs, the damp ground absorbed my steps, I readjusted the hilt of my blade and ventured onwards.
Has the demon even set up here yet?
If he stayed undiscovered for the last few years, he must've kept a low profile right.
Right as my doubts began to set in on whether or not he was actually here.
A glint from a loose strand of cobweb drifted in the wind.
"I really hate spiders."
Slice!
A thread spun around my sleeve, I promptly cut it along with the spider that weaved the thread.
Where is he?
I continued walking, until I found branches plastered and draped in silvery webs, along the way many spiders jumped on me.
But they were swiftly dealt with, I stayed extremely vigilant, remembering what happened to zenitsu
My ears suddenly perked up and a chill shivered down my spine when I heard the crinkling joints of a spider crawling on a tree.
"What the hell is that!"
A large spider with a human head suddenly pounced at my face, It's two front legs served as raptorial claws trying to clamp down at my throat.
I cleaved it instantly, bisecting it with my blade before it could reach me.
"Where are you at?! I know you're hiding!"
"Kuku… you're sharper than I thought kid, I tried to have my spiders bite you two times but you caught on."
He gave those departing words before rapidly crawling away.
"Hey! Get back here!"
I chased him down, hacking at the numerous cobwebs obstructing my path. Until I reached his hunting grounds.
A putrid smell instantly struck my nose and when I looked up, it was clear where the stench was emanating from.
A wooden hut dangled in the centre of the sky, held loosely by interconnected webs that hosted over a dozen shrinking corpses of poisoned travellers.
The bodies dragged and sagged on the loose silk, their hair slowly falling off the scalp and disproportionately small arms all indicating their doomed fate.
The fully transformed human spider abominations all crawled along the ground aimlessly.
"Disgusting." I couldn't help but remark.
"Kufuu, don't worry when one of my spiders gets a bite, you'll soon transform into one of my slaves too."
"I won't let you."
"KuKuKu! What can a weak demon slayer of your rank do to me. I won't even need to call for my family against you."
Boom!
I dashed upwards, with my blade swinging towards the spider demon's throat.
Speckled Venom Phlegm
He spat out a white viscous glob of venom, spraying towards me. And at the same time, his minions all leaped towards me with their syringe-like tongues dripping venom.
"Surround him! Stab him! Envenom him!"
Wind Breathing Third Form: Clear Storm Wind Tree
With a mighty swing, I conjured up a whirl of slicing air, lacerating all of the spider minions surrounding me.
Their guts sprayed out onto the surrounding trees and I continued my trajectory towards the spider demon.
Spit! Spit Spit!
In desperation the spider demon spat out three more of his acidic venom balls, but it didn't phase me because —
Wind Breathing First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter
I moved forward at blinding speed with cyclone of gust flinging the venom residue away like a wheel.
My lips curved into a smile as it felt as though time had slowed, my blade inched closer to the neck of the vile arachnid.
Surely I got him now right?
"Aaah! Father! Help me!"
With a thunderous boom, a big burly man with long white hair crashed down, propelling himself from a nearby branch.
The last second before my blade impacted the demons neck, the "father" jumped in between and absorbed the blow with his muscular arm causing my sword to sink halfway through before stopping at his bone.
Clink!
Huh? Why can't I pull my blade out?
"Raaah! Get away! Don't get near my family!"
I continued tugging at the hilt frantically as his other arm swung towards me, managing to pull it out last second by using his arm as a platform.
I leaped off his arm, free falling high in the sky and then breaking my fall with a roll.
There was now two demons facing me.
The father had a muscular frame and a spider head, whilst the other was the inverse.
"Did you really think you could beat me! Father get him!"
The hulking demon ran at the command of the demon with plodding steps. His fist clenched as it flung towards me.
Wind Breathing Second Form: Claws-Purifying Wind
I unleashed four near simultaneous strikes at once.
Using the strength of the demon against him, I severed his arm.
However whilst I was still mid-air, a shot of venom launched towards me.
But as I turned to slice it away, the father managed to grab a hold of my leg.