14 Start of Final Selection

After cutting my hair a shorter length with it still tied up in a ponytail behind me, Urokodaki hands me a fox mask, similar to that of Botan's. "Here, it's called a warding mask. I put a spell on it to protect you from harm and bad luck." He says, before heading off to his room to sleep.

Looking at the mask it was white in color, with the same red highlights around the eyelids and mouth. Under both eyes, were a streak of red going down both sides of the mask till the bottom coloring the bottom of the mask also red.

With this, I then head into my room to see Tanjiro, who had fallen asleep at his desk with his journal open. Walking up to him I moved him out the way and from the corner of my eye I could see a glimpse of what he had written.

'Today after training I came back and heard that big bro managed to finish his training and beat Botan in a fight! I need to train harder so I can become as strong as him and strong enough to…'

The words seem to have ended there as Tanjiro fell asleep, most probably from fatigue. Putting him into his futon, I straighten out Nezuko's futon again before going to sleep myself.

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4 months after the day I passed, I was carrying some logs around with the fox mask hanging on the right side of my waist, tied to secure it. As I put down the bundle I saw Tanjiro walking back with Urokodaki next to him.

"Brother I did it! I cut the rock in half!" Tanjiro said running up and diving into my arms. His long hair falls down to his shoulder after not having it cut for more than a year.

I patted the top of his head, "I knew you could do it, I'm proud of you." I said to him,

We separated and the same scene from 4 months ago played out. After Tanjiro passed we celebrated and ate some hotpot once more.

Urokodaki says to both of us as we eat. "From here on out, both of you will have to go through much hardship and strife. So for now, relax and eat up to your heart's content."

We happily ate into the night and were sitting around discussing the examination while I cut some of Tanjiro's hair to shorten it.

"It will start one week from now. That's when the "Final Selection" opens up once again and examines from all over attend it." Urokodaki said as we listened to him.

*snip* "Hey, Urokodaki-san, how do Demons grow stronger?" I said as I continued cutting Tanjiro's hair.

"A Demon is as strong as the number of Humans it's devoured," Urokodaki said.

"So, the more they eat, the stronger they will get?" Tanjiro asked.

"That's right," Urokodaki responded. "When your sense of smell becomes keener, you can smell the number of humans that the Demon has killed."

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[Third Person Perspective]

1 week later, in the early morning, Hiroto puts on his black haori, while Tanjiro puts his blue one on before tying it around their waist.

Hiroto looks towards the door leading to their room where Nezuko is sleeping and said to himself, "We'll be back soon, Nezuko."

As the two go outside, they see Urokodaki waiting for them.

"I'll take good care of her," Urokodaki said.

"Thank you very much," Both Hiroto and Tanjiro said at the same time.

"We'll be going now, then Urokodaki-san," Hiroto said, before nodding towards Tanjiro who nodded back.

"Say hi to Sabito and Makomo for me!" Tanjiro yelled back as he ran off.

Urokodaki looked stunned at what Tanjiro said, 'Tanjiro… how did you know about two dead children?'

As they ran down the mountain, Hiroto turned to Tanjiro and asked him, "you know about Sabito and Makomo?"

"Yea, they helped me to train, did you meet them?" Tanjiro asked from behind.

"No, Botan mentioned them once but he didn't say anything else other than their names," Hiroto said.

"Mhm," Tanjiro muttered as he nodded his head.

On the top of a tree, a man with a missing arm with a fox man stands on top as he watches the two receding figures. 'Good luck you two, come back alive.'

The two-run off together down the mountain trail, their next destination.

Mt. Fujikasane.

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Arriving at the base of Mt. Fujikasane, Hiroto and Tanjiro both down a path with the wisteria trees in full blossom. Looking at the beautiful sight of the purple hanging leaves overhead them makes them wonder how they blooming even though they are all out of season.

Walking up the steps with two red pillars on both sides at the top they come into view what seems to be a gathering. Over 20 people are standing around waiting for, what seems to be, the start of the examination. Walking off to the side a bit, Hiroto looks over the crowd to see what kinds of people would be attending.

There are many other kids with the same looking katana, on their waist or their backs. Some have scars in different places of their body. There was a boy with bright blonde uneven hair formed into bangs, wearing a white-triangle patterned, yellow and orange gradient haori. He seemed to be bruised and looked troubled.

A girl was donning a pink kimono with thin black hair, worn into a ponytail on the right side of her head, fastened by a pink and green butterfly ornament. From his position, Hiroto could see her smiling, but it didn't seem like a natural smile to him when peering into her pink-lilac colored eyes.

There was also a short man with large, inward-slanting eyes in a constant frown looking around, with his hair in a buzz cut and a messy clump of black hair growing to the side of his head. He has a long jagged scar that runs over his right cheek to his nose.

"We have quite some characters here don't we?" Hiroto said to Tanjiro as he was lost in thought.

Before he could respond, they heard two young voices who were talking in sync in a sort of bewitching way.

"Everyone… We thank you for coming here tonight. To the Demon Slayer Corps Final Selection." The two kids said. Everyone's attention turns over to the two children who both seemed to be young girls. They both look identical with a blunt bob and a fringe covering their eyebrows. The one of the right has black hair, as the one on the left has white with purple kimonos and flower patterns, wearing wisteria headpieces on opposite sides of their head.

The girl with white hair continues, There are demons imprisoned here on Mt. Fujikasane. Captured alive by the Demon Slayer swordsmen. They are unable to leave."

The girl with black hair picks up her words, "That is because the wisteria trees, which demons hate so much, is in bloom year-round from the bottom to halfway up of the mountain, surrounding it."

"However, there are no wisteria trees from this point on, and so Demons roam around." The White hair girl said.

"You'll need to survive here for seven days to pass the Final Selection." The Black hair girl concluded.

Next, both of the girls say in sync to each other, "And now, be on your way," As they bow towards us.

The examanies, hearing this, start to walk forward up to the mountain. Hiroto sees the kids from before walking in different directions up the steps. Hiroto, with his fox mask hanging on his waist, turned to Tanjiro and said, "I'll go up a different path to you. It's not that I don't want to abandon you, but this is a test for both of us. To test our strength and see if we are able to become full-fledged Demon Slayers."

Tanjiro looked to Hiroto and nodded with determination in his eyes. "Don't worry, I'll be able to survive on my own. This is what I have been training for."

Rubbing his head, Hiroto turned around and chose to walk up a random path, similar to one of the kids from before.

[Some hours later, in an unknown part of Mt. Fujikasane]

[Hiroto POV]

I run through the fields as I scan the trees to try and spot any demons lurking around. 'The air here isn't as bad as on Mt. Sagiri.' I thought.

"Rarrgh!" A Demon wearing ragged clothing launches towards Hiroto trying to ambush and eat him.

*Shing* I draw my katana as fast as lightning and in one fluid motion, cut horizontally through his neck before sheathing my sword once more.

The Demon's eyes seem to have a look of surprise and fear from the speed that I moved at.

'Slow…' I thought. Looking at the body that is turning black and into ash. 'So that's what happens when you finish a Demon off.'

I look away and start running again into the distance, before seeing someone surrounded by 4 different Demons who were arguing with one another.

'Isn't that…'