The burgundy haired boy crept through the eery forest hidden behind the trees he watched (y/n) and the mystery man from a distance a heavyweight weighed down on his heart, his grip tightened around the handle of his blade as he watched the tall raven-haired male slide his hand into hers.

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the handle of his sword tighter following their trail from the shadows of the forest he inhaled a sharp breath, he paused closing his eyes letting the negative feelings inside him drift away like a glass bottle in the ocean being carried away by the current.

He needs to focus on his mission to save his sister he could not let his emotions sweet or bitter cloud his judgement he watched them fade into the dark cover of the trees blissfully unaware of his presence.

ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ

Two days passed since the entrance exams (y/n) had found herself separated from her raven-haired companion by a pack of starved demons, "looks like we have you cornered little mouse." a demon snarled tauntingly licking his lips hungrily.

Their mouth salivating as their hunger grew the smell of her delicate flesh enticed them the corners of (y/n) lips curled into a cunningly seductive smile "didn't anyone tell you even a cornered mouse will bite." she replied, drawing her sword an aura of confidence surrounding her.

"My unique perfumes aroma was created to lure in demons I keep a small bottle right here in my pocket." she said holding up a small perfume bottle, The demons eyed her suspiciously through wide soulless eyes their mouths slightly agape carefully taking a step back "I can handle a few minor classed demons Koji leave it to me." She said her eyes glancing to the side.

The raven-haired male stepped out from the shadows of the forest "be my guest." he replied nonchalantly his back resting against a tree a stoic expression on his face, the demons hesitantly took a step forward a look of animosity on their faces as they let out low growls "who are you calling minor classed!" one retorted "you can't take us all on at once.

Another asserted as they leapt into action their efforts were thwarted when the girl slid the sharp edge of her sword against the palm of her hand they gasped as vibrant lotus petals appeared.

Lady himari had called the young maiden to the shrine according to Yui she had a special guest she wished to introduce (y/n) to someone she believed could be a great asset to honing her demon blood.

As they ascended the steps to the temple shrine (y/n) began to feel a familiar tingle the tingling sensation made the hairs on her arms stand up, her (e/c) orbs narrowed as she noticed the raven-haired priestess standing in the distance with another figure adorned in an elegant floral kimono (y/n) bowed respectfully looking at them with a fixed expression.

It was then she noticed a young boy standing behind the mystery woman who held a wistful yet vacant expression on her pale face he had a sickly white complexion his hair was neatly combed down and parted, "hello (y/n) I am Lady Tamayo and this is Yushiro." She said with a small smile holding her hand out (y/n) stared at her hand with a vacant expression.

"It's rude to ignore somebody haven't they taught you manners here." Yushiro snarled in an angry tone grabbing (y/n) by her collar lady Tamayo placed a hand on his shoulder pulling him away from the young girl "Yushiro please she's just being cautious." She replied defending the young maiden holding the young demon back, "She can sense we're demons." She finished her eyes fluttering over to lady himari who cleared her throat "It's okay (y/n) they are welcomed guests in the temple, in fact, lady Tamayo has been a dear and trusted friend of mine for years." (Y/n) relaxed slightly bowing respectfully.

"I apologise." (Y/n) said with little sincerity her face a fixed uncertain expression as she folded her hands neatly in front of her "it's alright I understand." Lady Tamayo replied petting her head gently with a warm smile on her lips "I will be handling the physical aspect of your training lady Tamayo will be..." she trailed off as she paused momentarily glancing at her dear friend and honoured guest, "teaching you to master demon blood art." Lady Tamayo finished the priestess sentence yushiro huffed folding his arms over his chest,

(Y/n) looked at her through wide (e/c) eyes a gleam in her eyes a look of interest carved on her (s/t) face "What's demon blood art?" She asked hesitantly, lady Tamayo pulled up the sleeve of her kimono digging the sharp points of her nails into the skin of her wrists "blood demon arts are spells and techniques that can be used by higher classed demons." She said her nails drawing blood as she dragged them along her wrist slowly letting the blood trickle down her sickly pale skin.

(Y/n) reached a hand out to stop her when Yushiro grabbed her wrist firmly an angry look on his face she shot back a look of annoyance she opened her mouth to protest when they were suddenly covered by a magical floral mirage, she felt her jaw drop as she took a step back pulling her wrist free from his grip her face held a look of childlike wonder as she admired the illusion, "illusions are a common and easy spell to learn I'm sure you could adapt it to your battle strategies." Lady Tamayo said a wistful smile on her face.

"Your demon blood gives you an advantage lady Tamayo and Yushiro here will see to it that you can use it to its fullest." Lady himari said confidently placing a firm hand on her dear friend's shoulder they exchanged a look of understanding" that's if you'll accept me as your teacher." Lady Tamayo said, (y/n) hesitated to pause momentarily to carefully think over the proposal "please teach me well lady Tamayo." She replied bowing gracefully Yushiro scoffed turning away lady Tamayo, on the other hand, had a look of delight on her face.

ꕥ Dancing Lotus Breath First Form ꕥ
ꕥ Dancing Lotus Petals ꕥ

A powerful set of swift blade movements disguised as an elegant dance sequence, the dancer will disappear into a mirage of lotus petals, this allows the dancer to deliver a series of harsh blows, in the finale stages the lotus dancer will reappear blade drawn, allowing the petals to surround them,

Like a tornado trapping their target in the eye of the storm caging them like an animal as they deliver the finishing blow with great speed and strength. (Y/n) can use her demon blood abilities to enhance the effect by using illusions to completely immerse herself in the storm masking herself from the naked eye, so even the best trained eye can't spot her in the storm of petals.

"Dancing lotus breath first form: Dancing lotus petals." (Y/n) announced as her body began to break down into lotus petals she disappeared the petals danced around them circling them as if they were standing in the eye of a vicious storm, the lower demons began dropped to the ground their heads rolling across the uneven surface as she appeared and disappeared back into the storm of lotus petals.

(Y/n) left the strongest demon for last in the storm of petals she managed to remove his arms disarming him he let out a defeated cry as he felt the edge of a blade pressed against his throat, "I'll spare you if you can tell me how to return a demon to I'll spare your life." (Y/n) said in a cold voice a vacant expression on her face.

"T-the only demon who can tell you that is the creator of demonkind but I can't tell you who that is." He croaked out weeping desperately blood covering his face, "Then you're no use to me." She replied in one swift thrust of her blade she removed his head from his body the petals disappeared when his head hit the floor.

"Lady Tamayo would be proud," Koji announced in a delighted tone he clapped the palms of his hands together in approval her skilful use of illusions gave her breathing technique an edge, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulders giving giving them a firm squeeze, Tanjiros burgundy eyes watched the two lotus dancers from the trees hidden in shadows of the forest his mouth hung from his face a look of awe on his benevolent face,

He slowly took a step backwards cautious of where he treaded he tried to slip back into the darkness of the very forest he heard a loud snap from under his foot he realised he stepped on a branch.

He paused tending up as he waited for them to notice when he heard nothing tanjiro breathed out a soft sigh of relief but froze when he felt the soft tickle of hot breath on his ear he smelled the soft scent of sweets and savoury smell of sweet and sour pork coming from behind him,

"you know it's rude to stalk people." An elegant male voice whispered into his ear calmly making him shiver in horror as he glanced behind him meeting a pair of cold raven eyes tanjiro swallowed the lump in his throat he felt the cold metal of a blade pressed against his throat "seems we made a friend." Koji hissed pulling the burgundy haired boy out of shadows throwing him into the dirt.

"T-tanjiro." He felt his muscles tense up as he locked eyes with a familiar pair of familiar beautiful (e/c) orbs he felt his heart flutter as if his chest were filled with thousands of butterflies "(y/n)" he whispered her name lovingly, he wrapped his strong arms around her waist tightly taking in her scent,

"I missed you." Tanjiro said as he buried his face in her neck (y/n) felt something wet on her shoulder "you're crying." The young lotus dancers said tanjiro pulled away wiping his tears with the sleeve of his Haori "I am just so happy to see you."

He said as he cupped her face in his coarse hands smiling as she leaned into his hand he had a warm smile on his face as he brushed his fingers through her hair in a caring manner "I missed you too even after I left the village everything reminded me of you." His burgundy eyes stared deeply into her (e/c) hues their eyes locked, "you left the village?"

"We left the morning after you disappeared." (Y/n) said in a pained voice her eyes fell to the ground as she hung her head low, "I should have never left you behind but after I lost them I couldn't bare the thought of losing you too." She smiled as he cupped her cheek "I understand I was angry for a while but as time passed I began to understand." She replied leaning into his hand.

The tall raven-haired boy let out a loud cough nudging his friend gently a soft blush dusted her cheeks as she pulled away "I almost forgot, Tanjiro I would like you to meet my friend and peer Koji from the lotus temple." Tanjiro cocked an eyebrow The lotus temple? He hummed thoughtfully to himself.

A sense of relief washed over Tanjiro as he heard the words 'friend and peer' it bought him a sense of comfort knowing she hadn't been taken from him yet, The raven-haired boy bowed with grace a small but polite smile on his lips "it's a pleasure to meet you."

Koji dug his hand  into his pocket pulling out pink mochi carefully wrapped up in a cloth "are you hungry?" He asked holding the dessert out to the boy offering it to him tanjiros face lit up as he gratefully took the wrapped up mochi the eldest kamado son looked beat.

"Thank you." Tanjiro replied gratefully unwrapping the mochi eagerly with his coarse hands he bit into the sweet dessert swallowing a large chunk hungrily, (y/n) smiled warmly as she grabbed a piece of cloth out of her pocket wiping the boy's mouth clean  "How is Nezuko?" She asked smiling as she felt the boy relax to her touch.

Tanjiros burgundy eyes fluttered to the moss-covered ground a solemn expression on his face "She hasn't woken up since we departed from the village I think she's hibernating." (Y/n) frowned she cupped his soft cheeks in her delicate hands her eyes stared into his eyes she offered him a warm smile "it's going to be alright you'll see." She said reassuringly brushing her thumb along his cheek gently.

"We should set up camp here, I'll take the first watch (y/n) second and tanjiro you can take the third watch." Koji said his raven bangs casting a shadow over his eyes  he threw his hands up resting them behind his head he let out a strained groan as he stretched out his spine, "it's been a long two days we should rest before we continue our journey." Tanjiro nodded his head in agreement "Koji is right we need to be alert." he replied his burgundy eyes surveying their surroundings vigilantly.

"So then it's decided we rest here tonight and leave at sunrise." Tanjiro had many questions for (y/n) but they would have wait until the end of the exams.