Beginnings: shaded by growing flowers....
Tanya laid against the loosely soft sheet that made up her sleeping area, sighing heavily "once again, born as an orphan, how original being X!" she said in s strained annoyed tone, even though both Being X and Being Z were responsible for this. She knows a few things, for one she is still trapped in her female body which is exactly like her body in her previous life serving the empire.
'I will kill both of them if I remain short and flat like last time' she grumbled, she also knows she is in Japan like her first life, at least her first known life. Though currently in the middle of the Meiji era, far before she was originally born. "Though I do not think its the same as my first life." she said as she remembered the overview both 'godly' beings gave her in accordance with their deal.
"This is a world where demons exist and eat humans. Remember your goal" Being Z said with a feminine giggle "when you reach the age of 8 we will make one come after your lodging, where you will meet a demon slayer, that is, if you do not die." Being X said in his usual pompous tone.
Tanya gritted her teeth. According to the two, demon slayers are the ones who protect humans, hunt demons, and slay them. They have a complex way of doing the slaying since there are very few ways a human can kill a demon and a demon along with a complex hierarchy, that the beings did not explain to her, and that the demon slayer corps works separately from the Japanese government. They also told her breathing styles are important for slaying, but she would have to discover on her own which works best for her.
Tanya learned various other things as well, most importantly that the demon all the way at the top, Muzan Kibutsuji, was the one she would have to slay in order to bring peace to this world and win the first reincarnation. She knew that Muzan was far above her and that it will take her a while to even get to him. But she also knew that so long as Muzan dies, she wins, so she just has to help someone else do it if possible. She already had many plans forming in her head '8 now, which gives me 22 years before I reach my 30-year time limit.' she had to kill Muzan or ensure his death before then or she fails. Like hell was she going to let Being X get the upper hand!
Suddenly the door to the shared lodging swung open, as one of teh orphanage nuns scream "everyone up! We need to get out of here now!" Tanya had already been up for a while as she could not sleep. But all the children that shared the same room as her groggily got up. "Whats going on Miss Kee?" a girl around the same age as Tanya tiredly asked. The other children could not hear it, the loud screaming of the other nuns and some children from down stairs, but Tanya could. Seems the beings, or more likely, just Being Z gave her heightened hearing to help her in her dangerous life here. "No time lets-" before Miss Kee could finish her head suddenly rolled off her shoulders, the children started yelling in horror. Tanya held her ears as it hurt her slightly, and then she saw it, the first demon she laid eyes on. It had grey skin and large fangs. At also had large nails. It seemed to be female from what she could tell. It then spoke "well well, seems my dinner increased in size, and my mother also ways said to leave left overs. But screw that." it licked its lips. "Shit…" Tanya said as the demon entered the room.
A few minutes of the demon grabbing and clawing what ever it could, Tanya managing to dodge every time. By the time she was the only one left she managed to run out the room "where are you going little one. Get back here!" the demon sped after her, clearly faster. "You've got to be fucking kidding me." thanks to her heightened hearing she was able to just barely move out of the way of the next slash that went for her. "My my, what a dirty mouth. Maybe I need to wash it out with soap~" the demon said as it clearly enjoyed chasing her.
The chase continued, Tanya managed to make it to the entrance of the orphanage, ignoring the many bodies she passed over. She suddenly felt a large kick to her back the moment she step outside "ack!" she grunted as she landed on the dirty ground, now covered in smudges and scratches. "Hehe, no more running little girl. Guess I will eat you before I eat the rest of your friends." while she never considered any of the other orphans to be her friends, she did not want to be eaten. 'Damn it, where is that demon slayer Being X and Z said were coming?!'
As the demon rushed for her Tanya in her thoughts heavily cursed Being X, but she heard screaming coming from the demon. She opened her eyes, she saw one of the demon's hands on the floor. There was a woman with a uniform and a Haori that was mostly white with pink and black on the bottom, and two butterfly hairpins above her ears. "Hey, kid, come back." she heard another female voice said in a bashful tone, she was pulled back by a girl with a different uniform as the other women and no haori, and a larger butterfly pin on the back of her head. "The little girl is safe, Onee-san"
The woman looked over and smiled, it was a very warm smile even Tanya felt calmed by it. 'Weird.' she thought to herself as the women then looked back over at the demon who had by now recovered their hand. "So sorry for cutting your handoff." the woman said as the demon backed away, but was still ready to attack this newcomer. The woman then asked "say are there any other survivors besides this girl in there? I may let you go if only a few died." she said in a friendly way despite having her sword pointed at the demon. The demon scowled and as it rushed to attack the demon slayer it yelled "you can join them all in my stomach!" having the answer she needed the woman quickly pulled her sword back and breathed in before saying "fourth form, crimson hanagoromo!" she slashed forward, curving to cut off both arms before landing a slash through the neck of the demon, instantly beheading it.
Tanya watched carefully 'so that's a breathing technique? But which kind? She did not say the name!' she thought, annoyed to herself, as she had been told by Being X and Z the names of the breathing styles but not forms of them. The demon's body disappeared into black puddles and smoke. The woman walked up to Tanya "hello there little one, I am Kanae Kocho, and this is my little sister Shinobu Kocho. Are you alright?" the girl mentioned did not speak. Tanya nodded slightly "f-fine for the most part. What was that thing and what did you just do?" she feigned ignorance of demons and breathing styles, after all, she was told that the demon slayers are a mostly secret organization.
Kanae smiled "that was a demon just now. You did well to avoid it, I am sorry that you lost your caretakers and friends in there." she said with a smile as she patted Tanya's head. Tanya did not respond, remaining silent as she felt being silent would be better than faking sadness. The other girl, Shinobu crossed her arms "we should not say too much…but I am guessing you are going to take her in aren't you sis?" Kanae nodded "I am, after all, she's seen and been through in one night I can see even you would suggest I turn her away, right Shinobu?" the little sister turned her head away from Kanae, but she did not deny that.
The woman looked back at Tanya "what is your name, little girl?" the little blonde girl was not sure if she should say her full name, as she never knew what her name was in this world as the nuns and other children just called her "Fuhei", likely due to her rarely smiling. She looked up at Kanae and said the only name that came to mind, as it just felt right "Tanya, I do not know my last name." she said it bluntly as well. The women giggled and said, "would you like to join my family?"
Tanya hesitated, but only because of how genuinely warm and welcoming this woman was. Had she not just saved her life she would be sickened by it. "Yes. and if it's not to much trouble please teach me how to beat those…demons." she sounded dark when saying that. But the tough look Tanya was going for instantly went away as Kanae picked her up in her arms "aww, just like Shinobu you act all tough, you are such a cutie Tanya!" Tanya made a "h-huh?!" noise as her face flushed with embarrassment. Shinobu's face went red as well "S-sis don't say it like that!" despite the many Oogling from Kanae that made Tanya want to quit right then and there she endured it, and would finally start her new life in this world.
~~~~~1905~~~~
"You got this Tanya!" a supportive yell came from Kanae as the aforementioned girl tired blowing into a large gourd. She came close but ultimately gave up as she had to catch her breath. "D-dan-" she stopped herself, as last time she cursed, her 'older sister' Kanae heavily washed her mouth out with soap. Kanae giggled "do not worry Tanya you are still young, Shinobu and even I took a while before we broke the gourd. But you and Aoi will get it eventually." she mentioned the name of the other girl taken in slightly after Tanya, though unlike Tanya Aoi was not committed to training just yet.
She felt a pat on the head from Kanae "you are a Kocho now Tanya, so do not worry about trying too hard, as I can protect every member of the family." Tanya looked away and grumbled. It's been a year and she still is not used to being called 'Tanya Kocho' she sorta regretted not just making up a different last name or just going with Degurechaff. They would probably just think she was the bastard child of a german man if she did that. She also was not used to all the constant head pats Kanae kept giving her "I said to stop doing that, I am a year older now!" Kanae frowned and said in a sad tone "first Shinobu and now you. Who will I give head pats to if Aoi also feels the same way soon?" Tanya just grumbled.
A couple days later and Tanya was given a blade to practice the breathing style, Flower breathing. Shinobu and Kanae were watching "alright, lets go. Ready Tanya?" she nodded she ran forward, she attempted the first form of flower breathing "Orchid blossoming!" she breathed in hard, she had good use of her total concentration breathing, the problem came with the breathing technique itself, as she barely managed to make a couple of slashes on the dummy she attacked.
She grumbled and kicked the dummy hard. 'This dummy must have been made tougher by Being X!' Kanae stopped Tanya, she pulled her away "easy there, no need to punish the innocent dummy." Shinobu sighed "I know she is younger them me but I do not think she is getting flower breathing down. Should I try with my insect breathing? I only mastered one form so far but maybe it is just different enough for her to get into it?"
Tanya grumbled and pointed at Shinobu "I don't want to learn insect breathing, your made-up breathing technique is for people who can't cut the necks of demons!" Shinobu's veins popped out a little "what was that brat? You wanna say that again?!" both of them stared and growled at each other. Kanae put her arms in between her two sisters "easy you two. Shinobu I know you are aiming for the upcoming final selection at the beginning of next year. Why don't you go practice for that, I will join you in a bit." the younger Kocho sister huffed and turned her head away "fine." she left the two to go train more for now.
Kanae sighed and knelt down by Tanya "it's okay if you are not getting flower breathing easily. It may take time but that is okay." despite the smile she was being given Tanya just crossed her mind and thought to herself 'easy for you to say, you aren't a time limit like me.' she then said "you are a Hashira right? How long did it take you?" the older Kocho sister tilted her head "a little while, but I had help refining my technique. I promise I will help you as well. Now, why don't you go find Aoi and see if she needs help with her chores." Tanya sighed "fine. I will cut that dummy down though!" she gave the blade to Kanae and left as she thought to herself 'damn it why couldn't I be left with a demon slayer with a breathing style I could use?! Those two Being did thai on purpose!'
Meanwhile, Kanae thought to herself and smiled. "Hmm I wonder…" that night she wrote a letter which had the following
Dear master Urokodaki, how are you? I know you plan on stopping by near the end of this year so that your current students and my sister can head to the final selection together. I was wondering if you could bring the other two are training as well and help my adopted little sister Tanya. She is having trouble with the flower breathing style and perhaps the original flow of the water breathing would be better for her than the more graceful flower breathing. Oh and I think it would also help Aoi more well.
Thank you in advance,
Kanae Kocho, Flower Hashira.
She then had her crow deliver the letter. While for a while she had hoped both Shinobu, Tanya, and even Aoi would not become demon slayers. It has become apparent, at least for Shinobu and Tanya, that they did intend to no matter what. Shinobu found her way with Insect breathing. She hoped to help Tanya find a breathing style that worked for her as well.
That night Tanya opened her eyes, she looked outside, it had started to rain but she could see the raindrops were frozen. She heavily sighed "what do you two want?" next to her laid two nutcracker soldiers, one red was Being X. the other, blue was Being Z. "I see you blame X for a lot of things. I do not blame you. Hehe" the feminine voice of Being Z said joyfully. Being X just grumbled before saying "it's like I said before all of this, for every action I take against you Z is allowed to help you. So even if I DID do something it is likely Z did something to counteract that. The only time this isn't true is when I send demons after you, which even then, most of the time you will be told in advance. So stop complaining and blaming for every statue you fail to crack!"
Tanya tried to turn her head, but she could not since she could only move her mouth and eyes this time in the frozen space. "I will not. Until I see you groveling as the humans you look down on I will blame you for everything, Being X!" the figure of Being X just grumbled some more. Being Z giggled "well, just know that whatever comes next for a while we will not interfere. That's not to say we will not do anything, but nothing that will fully impede you. Though Being X does have a couple of things planned for before and during the final selection. So be on the lookout ~" with that warning from being Z the two figures went away and time started moving again. As she heard the raindrops down and she begins to fall back asleep, Tanya thought to herself 'gods are so annoying'.