Chapter 13 : 13th Stance

CHIRP! CHIRP!

The birds sounded, signalling that it was dawn. But Takeo was already up and was exercising. After doing an easy 100 push-ups, to which he hardly shed a sweat, he went outside to run around the mountain.

Whilst he was getting to go, Yuko was still asleep, having a good dream it seems as he looked comfortable on Takeo's pillow.

Looking at him, Takeo smiled before he approached the black squirrel and stroked his fur before walking out of the room.

CREAK!

Exiting out of the house, he slowly made his way down the mountain. After being up here for 10 years, he never really took his time to just look at nature. On his cold exterior, a small smile flourished, 'Beautiful', he thought, before he started running around and up the mountain.

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After nearly an hour of running, Takeo finally came home. Covered in sweat, he decided to have a shower.

After coming out, he came back to his room and got changed. In the middle of changing, he looked at Yuko, still asleep, before lifted the pillow up, waking Yuko up.

"Eh? What time is it?", he said, before Takeo retorted, "Time to get up". "Is breakfast ready?", Yuko asked with a yawn.

A couple of veins appeared on Takeo's head, "Do I look like a slave to you?", he questioned, with his cold purple eyes.

"N-No No No", the little squirrel stated with some fright as he gazed at Takeo's eyes, 'How can a kid like him, have such cold eyes', he thought before he quickly ran into the dining room with his little legs.

Following him into the dining room, Takeo quickly stepped into the kitchen and tossed some walnuts at Yuko. To which he greatly appreciated and ate quickly, before Takeo grabbed some fruits he had picked earlier, mixing them together, giving a healthy breakfast.

After eating, with nothing to do Takeo decided to have a walk. Putting his sandals on, and bringing his sword just in-case, he exited the house. But before he left, Yuko asked, "Where are you going? Training?". After being with him for so long, Yuko had gotten used to Takeo's continuous attempt to train, no matter where he was.

Shaking his head at Yuko's question, Takeo replied, "Going on a walk...", "Can I come?", Yuko asked. Not replying, Takeo simply kept on walking forwards. Taking his silence as a yes, Yuko quickly jumped onto Takeo's shoulder, put he hopped into the front pocket of his robe.

SCAMPER! SCAMPER!

"CAW! CAW!", "TWEET! TWEET!"

Seeing Takeo, (who was thought to have been a demon by all the animals on the mountain) on a walk, made them all run or fly away due to fear.

'He's going to kill us!', they thought, running or flying faster to get away. But while they were all running away, Takeo was walking leisurely, staring at some wonderful flowers, before he actually picked them up....taking a sniff.

The innocent and the aromatic smell made him surprised...he stood still for a bit, before he put the flowers into his other pocket.

With the flowers in tow, he headed to the mountain peak where a make-shift grave laid. This was a grave he made for his Former Master Kenzō.

Placing the flowers on his gravestone, he was about to walk off when he forgot, 'The books'.

Taking out the books that helped him the Flame-Thunder Breathing Style, he quickly made a fire, stoked the fire with wood, before he burned the books in-front of his master's grave, 'Practise in Peace', he thought, before he prayed for a minute,

Finally done, he got up and continued his walk. Coming out of his pocket, Yuko looked at his surroundings, "Hey, isn't the Final Selection in a couple days?", he asked.

"How do you know about the Final Selection?", Takeo retorted, ignoring his question.

"You mentioned it a couple times, don't you remember?".

'Did I?'.

"Anyways, what exactly is the Final Selections?", Yuko asked.

"...The Final Selection is an entrance exam for individuals who seek to become a Demon Slayer of the Demon Slayer Corps. It takes place on Fujikasane Mountain. It requires you to survive for seven nights without any outside aid".

'So that's what you've been preparing for'.

"Hey....make sure you don't leave me here. Take me with you...". Thinking of his request Takeo was about to say ok, but then Yuko continued, "..otherwise, who's going to make my meals", with a little chuckle.

Instantly making Takeo glare at him dangerously, before he grabbed Yuko by the neck and comically strangled him, "You little rat!", Takeo shouted.

Tapping his paw on Takeo's arm, "Gi-Give-Give", Yuko stated, signalling he had enough.

Letting go of Yuko at that signal, he still thought of his request, and still decided to bring him, "....fine I'll take you...but if you ever speak lik-", before he could finish, Yuko was jumping whilst clutching his neck, before he hopped back into Takeo's pocket.

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After walking a bit more, Takeo and Yuko got home. Inside Takeo was reading a book he found in his Master's room, whilst Yuko was sleeping once again.

And with that, a couple days of peace passed.

Inside the house, Takeo was choosing what to wear, and quickly decided to wear a black and white kimono. Before he left, he polished his blade, he tried his best to take care of the blade, and certainly has. As every-time he stained it with the blood of the animals on the mountain, or get is dirty in anyway, he'd always clean it.

Anyways, after polishing it, he put a pair of white sandals, and a black mask that covered his chin to his nose. After getting everything ready, he put his blade into his scabbard and was getting ready to go before Yuko hopped into his pocket.

"Ready to go?", the squirrel asked, as he clutched an acorn he was going to eat later.

"...Yeah", Takeo retorted.

Before the two walked down, and left the mountain...on their way to Fujikasane Mountain.