"You are Nezuko Kamado, right ?"

Nezuko decided not to answer. Even though those two were kids, she had no reason to give them any trust. The fact they knew her name made her even more suspicious of them.

The taller boy talked again "Actually, you don't need to answer. I already know everything I need to. Don't even bother to ask anything because you're way too predictable with your small brain. This stupid and useless little guy next to me is Kotetsu and I'm Yuichiro. You need to break this rock ? Beat me and you'll have the strength to because you'll never be strong enough to beat Yoriichi and save your brother if you don't. How do I know all that ? You'll know once you beat me. Any unpredictable question ? I don't think so, now, come fight me."

Yuichiro was speaking so fast that Nezuko couldn't ask anything before he answered. She looked around and saw Kotetsu looking offended even behind his mask. Why was he so-

"Why am so harsh with you both ? Because your nut sized brains understand insults quicker."

He did it again.... How...

"How can I guess what you're thinking so quickly ? Anything you say or do is predictable. Including your attacks. That's why you still have so much to learn."

Nezuko looked fascinated but quickly concentrated again. She attacked Yuichiro for hours but none of the hits could get to him. She kept on trying for days or even weeks. She would get cheered up by Kotetsu each time she failed. He was kind of sweet but still had his moments where he was angry. It always made the girl laugh as it looked funnier with his mask. The boy also sometimes slipped some informations he shouldn't of his mouth. Nezuko indeed discovered some things about Yuichiro with that.

The young boy came to bring her some water and they started to talk and she asked, annoyed "Why is Yuichiro so mean to me ? I'm being hardworking and nice, though..."

Kotetsu looked a bit surprised by the question but giggled a bit "I think you remind him of his brother... He talked to me about how he was a long time ago... Sweet, hardworking, brave, loving...

-Yuichiro had a brother ?

-Yes. I think his name was Muichiro, from what I remember... He was killed by a demon when they were eleven."

Yuichiro then looked at the two of them. His face was hidden but the hatred could be felt like an aura. He came closer to Kotetsu quickly, soo quick that Nezuko couldn't see anything, and slapped him before leaving. The other boy saw that and looked angry because of the slap before checking on the older one, hiding in the woods.

Nezuko wasn't sure for a moment if she should follow them but ended up doing so. When she finally found the boys she didn't move and just listened to their conversation.

Yuichiro was sobbing and screaming at his friend "Why- Why'd you have to bring that topic up, dumbass ?!

-I... I'm sorry Yui...

-I don't want her... To know about anything more... Understood ?

-I won't tell her anything more !

-I'll tell her everything when she's ready..."

The girl knew from that moment she had to leave. All they were going to say next wasn't of her business. If Yuichiro said she didn't have to know, then it was his choice and she couldn't help it. She came back to the rock place, stayed here for some minutes but left at sundown, the boys not coming back. Her day was unsuccessful regarding the rock one more time but she now had discovered more about her friend.

After around three more months, Nezuko kept on fighting against the long haired boy. The conversation with him made her even more determined to beat him the faster possible. She would sometimes fall on the floor because of the exhaustion but it was because she was working hard, after all ! It meant she would be able to become stronger quickly !

"Get the hell up, Kamado.

- Please... Just let me rest a bit...

- Do you want to save your brother, yes or no ?

- I... I do. But I'm tired."

The girl started to cry a bit but then, Yuichiro sat down and looked at Nezuko. He put his hand on her shoulder before suddenly speaking with a kind voice.

"Still predictable but understandable... I'm sorry, okay ? Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh ? I don't know. You actually were the first person I taught something to. I suppose it's just who I am since the beginning. Please accept my apology because I had to find a good way to phrase it for a week, now."

The two others looked at him amused. Nezuko though about it for a moment. Yuichiro wanted her to be unpredictable. That was an occasion to prove she understood the lesson at least a bit.

She said with a fake annoyed tone "No, I won't forgive you. Why would I ?"

The taller boy looked back at her. She couldn't see his face but she was sure he smiled behind the mask. He got up and went on the rock to sit on it, back to Nezuko while Kotetsu went to check on the girl.

He softly whispered to her "It was my idea in the first place, haha !"

Nezuko smiled at him. He reminded her a bit of her younger brothers. She silently got up and took her wooden sword. On that moment, like some sort of vision, she realized her problem. After all those years, no one told her but she wasn't breathing the right way. She only had  to be concentrated on only two things. Breathing and the enemy. She was so dumb, how did it take so long to realize that ?

The girl looked at the kid on the rock, very determined. She took a great inhale and did her best to only focus on the boy. Nothing else mattered on that very moment. She silently took some steps back before jumping, katana prepared to touch Yuichiro. The latter turned his head but too late. Nezuko cut his mask in half.

It fell off on the ground, letting the girl see his face. He had big turquoise eyes looking at her surprised. Some minutes later, a smile grew on the boy's face before mist covered the whole place. She came back where Kotetsu was supposed to be but there was no one. After some seconds the mist cleared but the two boys were nowhere to be found. And... And the rock was...

The rock was cut in half. Nezuko couldn't believe it. How did it happen ? She wasn't even trying to. Yuichiro was right, being able to beat him would result into being able to cut the rock. Nezuko was tired. So tired she fell down and lost consciousness.

When she woke up, she was on her futon surrounded by two people. She opened her eyes, first seeing Mister Tsugikuni smiling slightly and then, she saw the other person and couldn't believe it. Tears started to roll down her face at this sight. She took him into a big hug. Her brother, Tanjiro finally was awake. She wasn't able to express her joy into words but bursting into tears while hugging clearly showed it.

After minutes of hugging her brother, she noticed her master looking at them some meters away from them. The young girl quickly invited the man to join the hug. For some reasons, her bond with Mister Tsugikuni felt unrealistically strong. She kind of saw him as her new father and she hoped Tanjiro felt the same way.

The next day, the man told Nezuko to go to the final selection. A place full of demons where she had to stay in for several days and survive. It was a way to select those fit to become demon slayers. It both felt scary and exciting to the girl as she had never fought any demon yet. She might just die or get a chance to her brother.

Before leaving, Mister Tsugikuni gave her a gift. Seeing it made Nezuko burst in tears one more time. A beautiful haori. She knew it pretty well and it made her feel sadness deep down. It was an ichimatsu pattern haori, like her brother's, except this one was black and orange. It used to be her father's... Tanjuro Kamado was the only person she had seen in this.

She put the haori on, over her pink kimono. The colors didn't look good together but she didn't care. It was the kimono she had worn for years and her father's haori. It was too precious for her to care about looks.

Mister Tsugikuni then came to her, to tell her one last thing "I have something to ask you. From now on, if you're seeing someone asking you who your master was, tell them my name is Michikatsu Kokushibo. You don't need to know why yet but know Tsugikuni is a last name hated by most slayers..." he then smiled "Anyway, I wish you the best luck for the final selection."

Nezuko didn't quite understand her master's request but she was sure there was a good reason behind it. She then left, more than determined to survive to this selection.