Born Ambidextrous

At the crack of dawn, Urokodaki shook Tanjiro and Tekeo awake and took them outside. They stepped outside the hut, greeted by a breathtaking view from the foggy, mysterious mountain. Tekeo turned around to see the ominous mountain where they would be training for the next two years. Urokodaki on the other hand stood tall, ready to kick off their training.

"From today, you're training to become demon slayers," Urokodaki announced. "I don't know how far you'll go, but it's my duty to prepare you for all the challenges ahead. From now on you should call me Master and follow my instructions without question."

Tanjiro and Tekeo nodded, looking serious. Urokodaki continued, "Let me fill you in on the history of demons and demon slayers. Over a thousand years ago, sometime during the Heian era, a demon named Muzan Kibutsuji appeared. He's the only one who has the ability to create demons by sharing his blood with humans, turning them into demons. The demon who turned Nezuko and killed your family is undoubtedly Muzan Kibutsuji."

He paused, letting that sink into their minds. "Muzan is super powerful, capable of slaughtering hundreds if not thousands if he wanted to. Despite countless attempts, no one's been able to kill him. Which is why he has been alive for over a thousand years. The demons he creates are weaker than him but still pretty formidable. To fight back, the Demon Slayer Corps was formed during the Sengoku era to protect humanity."

Urokodaki's voice grew stern. "Demons have tough skin and incredible healing abilities and are almost indestructible. Their only weakness is sunlight. But we can't rely on the sun as our weapon since demons hide during the day, making it nearly impossible to find them."

Curious, Tekeo asked, "Then what do demon slayers use to kill demons?"

Urokodaki responded, "We use special swords called Nichirin Swords. These katanas are forged from unique ore found in high mountains, which absorb a lot of sunlight. Only these special blades can decapitate a demon and kill it."

He went on, "Each Nichirin Blade is unique, crafted by special blacksmiths to suit the wielder's body and fighting style. You'll learn more about them with time. For now, you need to train your body and build up your stamina. That is the foundation of all good swordsmen for even a few seconds of longer stamina can save your life at a crucial moment."

Pointing to the mountain behind the hut, Urokodaki said, "Your first task is to run to the top of the mountain and get back before noon."

Tanjiro and Tekeo exchanged bewildered looks. The mountain was huge, covered in fog, and looked almost haunted. But Urokodaki's stern gaze left no room for argument. "Go," he commanded.

The brothers began their climb, the steep path testing their endurance. Tekeo's heart pounded as they navigated fallen trees, rocky outcrops, and slippery slopes. Tekeo's legs burned, but he kept pushing. Tanjiro, equally determined, matched his pace, their breaths visible in the cold air.

Hours passed, and the summit seemed to keep moving further away. Exhausted Tekeo was almost about to faint but tanjiro was resolute, they finally reached the top. The view was stunning, the fog parting to reveal the sprawling landscape below. For a moment, Tekeo allowed himself to rest for a moment, savoring his accomplishment and enjoying the view.

"Let's head back," Tanjiro said, breaking the silence. Tekeo nodded in agreement, and they started their descent. The return trip was even more difficult, their muscles protesting with each step and there were random animal traps all around. Tekeo stumbled a few times, his energy waning, but Tanjiro's encouraging words kept him going, back on earth he never did any physical activity so his experience with hard work was basically nonexistent.

As they neared the hut, the sun was high in the sky. They arrived just before noon, collapsing at Urokodaki's feet. The master looked down at them, his expression unreadable. "You made it," he said. "Barely."

Urokodaki allowed them a brief rest before continuing. "Your endurance needs work, but you have potential. From now on, your training will get tougher. You'll learn the Breath of Water under me, a swordsmanship technique that's all about the fluidity and strength of water."

He demonstrated the forms, his movements graceful and precise. Tekeo and Tanjiro watched in awe, trying to memorize each motion. "Practice these forms every day," Urokodaki instructed. "Only through rigorous training can you master them."

The brothers nodded, their determination renewed. They spent the rest of the day practicing the forms, their bodies moving in sync with Urokodaki's guidance. As the sun set, Tanjiro sat down with a journal, writing a journal for Nezuko to read once she turns back into a human. Tekeo, on the other hand, was exhausted. He couldn't move a muscle; he had never worked this hard physically in his entire life.

Tekeo knew he had to push himself to avoid becoming a burden to his family. Although he wasn't the original Tekeo, he had all of his memories. To him, memories are what shape our identity, so he saw Tanjiro and Nezuko as his real family. Back on Earth, Tekeo had been an orphan, so this feeling of belonging was new to him. For the first time, he felt like he had found the people he belonged with, something he had never experienced before.

The night passed quickly, and dawn arrived. Tanjiro woke up and tried to wake Tekeo, but Tekeo was sick from all the pain. Master Urokodaki allowed him to rest for the day, so Tanjiro went up the mountain alone. Tekeo, however, got up and tried to help Urokodaki, who asked him to clean the decorative swords while he polished his own.

Out of nowhere, Tekeo asked, "Master, what is the fastest and best way to get stronger?"

Urokodaki gave him a curious look. "Why do you want to get stronger?"

Tekeo replied, "Ever since I was a child, Tanjiro has been a role model for everyone. He does all the heavy work and helps everyone. I, on the other hand, haven't been useful to him or my parents, and I'm afraid I might become a burden to him."

Urokodaki sat in silence, looking at Tekeo. "Being stronger is not always the right answer, Tekeo. Yes, you might help him at times, but everyone else can do the same. If I know that boy well, he wants you to be safe instead of strong. I'm sure he will be happy as long as you are safe, so you don't need to feel like a burden."

Tekeo was about to speak when Urokodaki continued, "But if you wish to know the path to becoming a stronger swordsman, there is just one simple answer: consistency. Proper practice is the fastest way to get better at anything. Always remember, there are no shortcuts to getting stronger, and even if there are, they will have their own drawbacks. If you wish to get stronger, keep working hard and putting in the effort. At the end of the day, even your friends may betray you, but effort never betrays."

Tekeo looked at Urokodaki with newfound respect and wisdom. He thanked his master and left the hut, taking his wooden sword with him. He set a goal for himself to complete a thousand sword swings before Tanjiro got back. Urokodaki heard him swing his sword and smiled warmly, looking at his blue blade. He got up and went to Tekeo. With his master's proper guidance, Tekeo's stance and balance improved, and his swings hit harder.

Urokodaki suddenly stopped Tekeo. "Stop. Use just your right hand and hit my arm," he instructed, putting up his arm to receive the blow. Tekeo, confused, did as he was told. "Now use your left hand to hit me again." Tekeo followed the instructions. "Now use both of your hands and swing your sword at me." Tekeo did as he was told, hitting Urokodaki's arm with full force. Urokodaki looked at the red bruise forming on his arm and then at Tekeo.

"You were born with a very special ability, Tekeo," Urokodaki said.

Tekeo was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Urokodaki explained that he believed Tekeo might be naturally ambidextrous, meaning his hits were much stronger than the average person's. Tekeo was shocked at this discovery, realizing he could use his left hand as easily as his right.

He thanked his master and asked what he should do to make the best use of this ability. Urokodaki advised him to work on his stamina and basic training for now, promising to teach him how to improve this unique ability later when he had improved his physique. Tekeo bowed and thanked his master again. He started to practice with renewed enthusiasm, smiling as he realized he finally had something special like the others.