━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Chapter 11 ━☂

❁ཻུ۪۪ ━ ❝ A step into the unknown.

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Hard rain poured down from the heavens as it was already dark out, the moon nowhere to be seen as clouds covered its glow from being seen. Running on the muddy ground were two figures, side-by-side as a small demon chased after them. 

Slipping down, Tanjiro and (Y/n) both dodged from getting caught by the demon as the two humans and the demon were separated thanks to the help of the hard wood that was joined together forming a small shield from the other side. 

Looking towards the demon (Y/n) saw that it was struggling to break away the wood, its eyes frantic as it began to breathe heavily.  "There's something I wanna ask you! How do you turn someone who's become a demon back into a human?" Tanjiro questioned the demon, only to receive growls as the demon finally ripped away the wooden wall. 

Quickly standing in front of Tanjiro, (Y/n) raised his sword towards the incoming demon and sliced off its neck, the demon flying somewhere else as the demon began to disintegrate. "Might have lived if he just answered." (Y/n) sighed and sheathed back his sensei's sword.

Hearing the muddy steps of two demons, (Y/n) turned around as Tanjiro did the same. "Please tell me! How can I turn Nezuko..." Taking back out his blade, (Y/n) put it in front of him as he shielded Tanjiro's body once more from the demon's vision. 

"... back into a human?" Tanjiro asked them, though when they didn't respond Tanjiro gave (Y/n) the okay to kill them, and so (Y/n) did. 

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Breathing in through his nose, (Y/n) looked back to make sure that no one was following them as they continued to run further down the mountain. It was still night out as the seven days of the Final Selection were coming to an end. 

Out of breath, Tanjiro stopped running as (Y/n) followed suit, also being a bit tired from the constant running these past seven days. Slumping backward as (Y/n) tried to catch his breath, he opened his (E/c) orbs only-- to his delight-- to find that the wisteria flowers were now in full bloom, shining as if it was a beckon of hope. To which, it was. 

"Wisteria?" Tanjiro questioned it, not seeming to understand that Final Selection was almost over. "I have never been so happy to see flowers before!" (Y/n) happily exclaimed, touching the wisteria flowers gently thinking that if he applied too much pressure that their beautiful petals would flutter away. 

Taking in a deep breath, (Y/n) looked over to his partner as he smiled brightly, bringing him in for a warm hug. "We made it! Tanjiro! We made it!" (Y/n) yelled in happiness, swinging Tanjiro around making him laugh. 

Setting Tanjiro down on the ground safely, (Y/n) went to admire the wisteria flowers as Tanjiro waited exactly where he stood. "We made it." Tanjiro whispered, a relieved smile spreading on his face as he joined (Y/n) with admiring the wisteria flowers. 

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Morning soon appeared as the last surviving candidates went to where they first arrived. When both Tanjiro and (Y/n) arrived, they'll admit that they were expecting more survivors than just three others. In total, only five survived. 

Glancing around at the surviving three, (Y/n) found it funny how the people that stuck out most to him when he first arrived here were the only ones alive and well. Taking in the petrified form of a dorito kid, (Y/n) sweatdropped as he took back the 'well' part. 

"Only five of us?" Tanjiro questioned, standing closely at (Y/n) side. (Y/n) looked down at him and nodded, "I thought that there would be more..." (Y/n) added, also finding it a little hard to believe that only five survived. 

"(Y/n), there used to be about twenty of us." Tanjiro whispered into his ear as (Y/n) nodded in return. "I suppose being a demon slayer is a lot harder than what I've been told." (Y/n) chuckled nervously, trying to ignore the slight fear that crept up in his heart. 

'I don't see that guy here, either.' Tanjiro thought, feeling guilty that the kid from earlier was dead. "It's all because I blacked out at that moment. I couldn't save him." Tanjiro mumbled to himself, though it was enough for (Y/n) to hear. 

"Hey," Putting a hand on top of Tanjiro's head, (Y/n) smiled at him. "that kid was still alive after you blacked out, he just ran away. His death was his own doing, so don't degrade yourself over it." (Y/n) reassured him as Tanjiro only nodded absentmindedly. 

"I'm gonna die. I'm a goner." Turning to the left at whoever said that (Y/n) found that it was the dorito kid. His expression was grim as fear struck his eyes, dirt also covering his haori and face. 'He doesn't look that different from when I last saw him.' (Y/n) thought, a little amused by the mismatched-haired kid. 

"Even if I survive now, I'm gonna die in the end anyway." The dorito kid continued to whisper, his eyes shaking with fear. 

"Welcome back." Turning their heads to the front Tanjiro and (Y/n) saw the same two siblings from seven days ago, both of them walking to their spots. Now that (Y/n) observed that place, he found that there was a table covered by a cloth that was hiding some unknown objects. 

"Congratulations." The white-haired child congratulated them, the same permanent smile on their faces. "We're pleased to see that you're safe." The black-haired sibling expressed his happiness with words, not in the slightest creeping out (Y/n).

"So? What am I supposed to do now?" Turning his head to the right, (Y/n) saw the boy from seven days ago who had the large jagged scar, his face showing eternal irritation. "Where's my sword?" The scarred boy continued to question them, though the two siblings only ignored it and continued doing their job. 

"First, we shall issue you all uniforms. We will take your measurements, after which your rank will be engraved." Kanata informed them, this of course making (Y/n) slump down at the thought of what Fumio would do to such uniform.

'I hope Fumio deems it 'in fashion'.' (Y/n) thought, not wishing for his caretaker to completely change it making it unrecognizable for other demon slayers to recognize it. "There are ten ranks in all." Kiriya revealed, this peeking (Y/n) interest. 

"Kinoe."

"Kinoto."

"Hinoe."

"Hinoto."

"Tsuchinoe."

"Tsuchinoto."

"Kanoe."

"Kanoto."

"Mizunoe..."

"... and Mizunoto." Kiriya finished his sister's sentence. 

"Currently, you are at the lowest rank, Mizunoto." Kanata informed them, this was not in the least surprising to the last survivors. "And our sword?" The boy asked again, this making (Y/n) slightly annoyed at how fixated the boy was on the swords.

"Today, we will let you choose the ore for your swords." Kiriya replied, not seeming to be answering the boy's question as he would have liked. "However, the swords will take ten to fifteen days to complete." Kanata added, angering the scarred boy. 

"Are you kidding me?" The scarred boy whispered, rolling his eyes. "But first..." Clapping her small hands, the sounds of crows sounded as they neared them making some of them look up. Following the crow that was directed towards him, (Y/n) saw a rather healthy-looking crow landing on top of his head, the crow leaning his head down to stare (Y/n) in the eyes. 

(Y/n) giggled at this and began to coo at the crow finding him adorable. "Aw, you're the most cutest crow ever!" (Y/n) exclaimed, scratching the top of the crow's head as it seemed to rather enjoy it. "We will now assign each of you your own Kasugai Crow." Kanata stated, the other crows were now on top of their respective masters. 

"Kasugai Crow?" Tanjiro questioned as (Y/n) nodded. "Aren't they just so cute!" (Y/n) exclaimed, fawning over how cute his own acted. "These Kasugai Crow's can be used primarily for communication." Kiriya explained. 

"Did you say "crow"? Isn't this a sparrow, though?" The dorito kid asked him, looking at the perched sparrow on top of his hand. "Don't give me that crap!" Flinching at the harsh voice, (Y/n) turned his head around to see the same complaining boy from earlier. 

Pushing his sparrow away the scarred boy looked straight at the two children and glared at them. Watching as the boy passed him angrily (Y/n) followed him since he looked like if no one held him back then he would murder some little kids. 

"Who the hell cares about some stupid crow?" The scarred boy said, going to grab Kanata's hair only to be intervened by (Y/n). "My, my, what crude behavior. Something like that," Grabbing a hold of the scarred boy's hair, (Y/n) yanked him away from the girl earning him a yell. 

"needs some sort of punishment." (Y/n) smiled creepily down at the boy, a blood vessel forming on his forehead as he felt himself about to snap if the scarred boy pulled another stunt. "Get the hell off of me!" The scarred boy demanded as he tried to hit (Y/n) with his two feet only for (Y/n) to grab one of his legs, throwing him on the ground as (Y/n) pinned him down. 

"Harming a little girl just because of anger is quite stupid, sir, are you stupid?" (Y/n) asked him, slight amusement shining in his (E/c) eyes. Feeling (Y/n) move his right arm further to the left the scarred boy tsked. "No, so let me go!" The scarred boy ordered. Feeling as if he has interrupted enough (Y/n) let go of the boy only to grab his hair again and throw him towards where everyone else is. 

"My sensei taught me those moves if you wished to know." (Y/n) smiled down at him as the scarred boy quickly got up, grumbling as he crossed his arms refusing to make eye contact. 

"Are you two done?" Kiriya asked (Y/n), his eyes staring down at the tall male. Turning around to face Kiriya, (Y/n) smiled warmly at the kid. "Yep!"

Pulling off the cloth that was hiding what was under it, it showed that it was the ors that the two siblings were telling them earlier. "Now, please select an ore." Kiriya asked them, walking away to let the other five choose their steel. 

"The steel for the sword that will annihilate demons and protect you will be of your own choosing." Kiriya explained, sounding quite passionate about this. (Y/n) looked over at the boy and smiled. "Do you wish to be a demon slayer, kid?" (Y/n) asked him, this surprising the boy but didn't let it show on his features. 

"Yes." Kiriya replied, his smile having a sense of happiness. (Y/n) chuckled, approaching the boy as he ruffled his hair. "Then, once you decide to become a demon slayer, come to me to teach you! I'll make sure to make you my first and only disciple!" (Y/n) exclaimed, pulling away his hand from his head much to Kiriya's dismay. 

"I will." Kiriya responded, this time (Y/n) swore that he saw a glint of happiness spark in his dull eyes. "Great!" (Y/n) clapped his hands together, walking away from the child and next to Tanjiro who was also next to the kid from earlier. 

"You must feel pretty stupid right now, buzz cut." (Y/n) giggled, hiding his smile from behind the sleeve of his haori. The scarred boy looked back at (Y/n) and tsked, glaring at the male. 

Now, all five of them were in front of the table, not one of them making a move. Examining each one of them (Y/n) was able to find slight differences in each one, though it was only slightly. Looking to the one that was the farthest away from him, (Y/n) walked over towards it and picked it up, spinning it around before giving a satisfied nod. 

"I have absolutely no clue." The scarred kid confessed, this making (Y/n) smile. "When have you ever?" (Y/n) chuckled as he watched the boy give him another hateful glare. 

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The night sky was soon upon them as the sun spilled down slowly, hiding behind the high and low mountains as the sky turned into a sea of riches, each of them colored golden, orange, and red. 

Carrying an injured Tanjiro, (Y/n) continued to carry the passed out Tanjiro towards the place where he told him of. 'On the foothill of Sagiri Mountain, don't forget that!' (Y/n) continued to remind himself, already walking down the terraced paddy fields as water surrounded everything else. 

Once arriving (Y/n) gently woke Tanjiro up who was being carried in piggy-back style, switching the position into bridal style as he walked closer towards the unfamiliar hut. Looking down at Tanjiro, (Y/n) smiled as he saw that he was all passed out, thankfully too tired to argue when (Y/n) requested sending him home. 

It was already dark out as soon as they arrived, but every single time that (Y/n) tried to wake him up Tanjiro would just snuggle closer towards his chest whispering the word 'warm' every time. 

Hearing someone kick down a door (Y/n) quickly looked up only to spot a demoness was the cause of this. Sighing, (Y/n) repositioned Tanjiro to instead lean on his left arm as he pulled out his sensei's sword, putting it in front of him ready to attack once the demoness spotted them. 

'Seriously... I barely just got out of Final Selection and I already gotta kill a demon? Let's just hope that the demoness was the only one in that house.' (Y/n) pierced his sword on the ground, ready to attack only to stop as Tanjiro woke up panicked. 

"Wait! (Y/n)! Don't kill her! She's my sister!" Tanjiro pegged, hugging (Y/n) chest as he looked up towards (Y/n) eyes. Glancing down at his friend (Y/n) sighed and pulled back his sword, sheathing it back in. 

"I trust you..." (Y/n) trailed on, helping Tanjiro reach his sister as the demoness ran towards him, pulling Tanjiro's head onto her chest and embraced him. As both of them were having their moment (Y/n) looked at the scene with wide eyes, newfound hope flaring like a re-kindled fire inside his eyes. 

'Demons... can change.' Smiling happily that his theory proved correct, he did a small celebratory dance in celebration. Finally realizing that they were also people there (Y/n) quickly stopped and continued to look on at the two. 

'Maybe the others are going to be like that once I get back.' (Y/n) smiled at the thought, already imagining all of them running out of the temple and towards (Y/n) to embrace him in a tight hug, a table full of Daifuku and Dango awaiting him. 

Hearing Tanjiro cry (Y/n) head snapped up towards him as he quickly ran towards him, worried that something might have happened to him. "Tanjiro! Are you okay?" (Y/n) asked him in a gentle voice, kneeling behind the demoness as he wiped away Tanjiro's tears with his handkerchief. 

Nodding his head in response, Tanjiro continued to cry. "Why... why'd you fall asleep all of a sudden? Never waking up once!" Tanjiro cried, his sadness from the past one and a half years spilling out. 

Handing Tanjiro his handkerchief (Y/n) got up as he already had to leave. Spotting someone standing by the corner of his eye (Y/n) turned around to face someone wearing a cloud haori and a goblin mask covering his face. 

Nodding his head towards the mysterious man the man did the same, running away from him and the others as he headed towards his hometown. 

'Fumio-sama... Keiichi-sama... Gorou-sama... Sora-sama... Shigeru-sama... I'm coming home.' (Y/n) smiled sadly, trying not to get emotional about coming home and seeing his family after seven days. 

"Family... yeah, I do have a family." (Y/n) cheered, quickening his pace as he tried to near his hometown sooner. Unbeknownst to (Y/n), someone was watching him from afar, sadness filling his eyes as he watched (Y/n) run away from the mountain. 

The girl next to him put her hand on his shoulder as a form of reassurance. "Go, Sabito, go follow your love." Makomo urged him, smiling sadly up at her friend. Quickly looking down at Makomo, Sabito's eyes watered.

"Thank you, Makomo, and goobye." With that, he was gone, his soul forever attached to (Y/n) own. Seeing her friend go, Makomo wiped away a single tear as she smiled proudly. 

"Show them that you're the best gay couple out there, Sabito. Even in death."

𑁍┊𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐑 ˎˊ˗

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ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴀʏ/ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴍʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇꜱ!

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