26. Rehabilitation Training

The sun dipped low over the Butterfly Mansion. Hana had finally healed from her injuries and joined the rehabilitation training.

After two full weeks of intense exercises, she finished yet another grueling day. Her limbs trembled with exhaustion as she stumbled toward her room, sweat clinging to her temples. The training was nothing short of gruesome.

"Hana-chan!" she heard someone cry behind her.

She turned tiredly. "Zenitsu?"

"Hana-chan, how is the training going?! Tell me! Tanjiro and Inosuke were so worn out, but they won't tell me anything!" he whined, tears welling up in his eyes. "Please tell me! I'll be joining from tomorrow!"

Hana blinked at him wearily, too drained to even form words. She managed a small sigh, muttered an apology, and walked away.

"Hana-chaaaaan!" Zenitsu cried dramatically after her, collapsing to his knees.

----

The next morning marked a new addition to the training-Zenitsu.

He was terrified.

"Scary, scary, scary!" he wailed, clutching Tanjiro's uniform. "I don't wanna go!"

Aoi crossed her arms, exasperated. "All right, since you'll be joining us from today, Zenitsu, I'll go over the process again."

She gestured toward Kiyo, Naho, and Sumi. "They'll help make your bodies limber again after being bedridden for so long."

The three girls began stretching Inosuke, who let out muffled cries through his boar mask as tears leaked out from underneath it.

"Next," Aoi continued, "we have reflex training. Those cups contain medicated water. The goal is to splash your opponent but if your cup gets blocked before you can lift it, you can't move it again. Now!"

Before Tanjiro could react, Kanao splashed him squarely in the face.

"Again!" Aoi ordered.

And again, the result was the same.

"Last up is full-body training. Basically, you'll be playing tag. Your opponents will be me and Kanao."

Suddenly, Zenitsu raised his hand. "Excuse me, may I ask something?"

"Is there something not clear to you?" Aoi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's nothing, just...come. Both of you," Zenitsu said darkly, glaring at Tanjiro and Inosuke.

"Huh? Zenitsu, are you all right?" Hana asked.

"Not going," Inosuke muttered, but Zenitsu snapped.

"Just shut up and come with me like I said!" Zenitsu shouted angrily, grabbing both of them by their shirts. "Come on, you lowlifes! You dirtbags! Come, damn it!"

He dragged them outside the training grounds, fuming.

"Sit up straight! I said sit up straight, you miserable bastards!" Zenitsu yelled, punching Inosuke.

"What are you doing, Zenitsu?! Tell Inosuke you're sorry!" Tanjiro protested.

"You guys say you're sorry!" Zenitsu barked. "All you did was frolic with girls all day, so why did you look so haggard?! Say sorry! Get down on your knees and apologize! Commit seppuku!"

"How can you say such a thing?!" Tanjiro exclaimed angrily.

"Shut up, you goody-goody talking forehead!" Zenitsu screamed. "You're allowed to touch girls! You get your bodies massaged! You get to play games with them! When you play tag, you get to touch their whole freakin' bodies! Each girl has two boobs, one behind
two thighs! They smell so nice when they walk past-"

He stopped suddenly, panting heavily, noticing both Tanjiro and Inosuke looking behind him with pale faces.

"What?" Zenitsu asked, turning around only to see Hana standing there, eyes blazing.

"What did you just say, Zenitsu?" she asked, voice dangerously calm. "Can you repeat it?"

Zenitsu shrieked in terror. "Uh... uh... I meant... the flowers smelled nice?! Yes! Flowers!"

Before he could run, Hana punched him squarely on the head. "Learn to be more respectful towards girls!"

She hit him again, making him cry loudly and squeak like a startled bird.

----

"I'm gonna kill him," Aoi muttered through clenched teeth, watching from afar.

Moments later, Zenitsu twirled back into the room, covered in bruises but smiling dreamily. "Please train me well!" he declared, surrounded by imaginary flowers and sparkles.

Hana just glared at him.

The three girls began stretching him again until it should have hurt but Zenitsu only giggled, completely lost in his own world.

Next came the medicated water challenge. Zenitsu, of course, refused to splash Aoi.

"I would never splash water on a lady!" he said proudly.

That statement alone made Aoi's temper boil over.

"Now then full-body training! Begin!"

Zenitsu darted forward with surprising speed, circling Aoi then suddenly hugged her around the chest.

For a brief second, time froze. Then Aoi snapped.

She smacked, punched, and absolutely demolished Zenitsu.

"I may have won the battle..." Zenitsu groaned from the floor, face swollen, "..but I lost the war."

"Do you not understand!" Hana scolded, punching him again. "Behave yourself, Zenitsu!"

Zenitsu whimpered sadly.

----

Five more days passed, and still, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke couldn't beat Kanao. Hana, however, had improved tremendously. She managed to complete every challenge, even beating Kanao in the medicated water game after several attempts.

----

One evening, Hana climbed up to the roof to meditate, breathing in and out slowly under the pale moonlight.

"Yoo-hoo! Yoo-hoo!" someone called out.

She opened her eyes in surprise only to find Shinobu's face suddenly very close to hers, wearing her usual teasing smile.

"You did well in rehabilitation training!" Shinobu said softly sitting next to Hana. "I heard that Tanjiro is still working hard."

"Yeah," Hana replied with a faint smile. "He'll do it. I believe in him."

"You're an amazing sister, Hana." Shinobu said with a sad smile.

A gentle silence filled the air, broken only by the quiet chirping of crickets. The night was calm, peaceful... almost fragile.

"You and your brother have such pure souls," Shinobu continued softly. "I admire that. That's why I'd like you to carry on my dream a world where humans and demons can coexist as friends."

Hana's gaze turned to the stars before she looked back at her. "Lady Kocho... are you angry, perhaps? Every time I'm near you, I catch this faint scent of anger."

Shinobu's eyes widened slightly. Her calm mask cracked for just a second.

"Yes... you're right," she admitted quietly. "It might be true that I live in a constant state of anger. Ever since a demon slaughtered my beloved sister..."

Her voice softened, grief weighing in every word.

"Every time I see the tears of those who've lost loved ones to demons, every time I hear their cries... the anger grows. Deep down, there's a revulsion I can't fight."

She looked toward the horizon. "I'm sure the other Hashira feel the same. But after seeing Nezuko a demon who hasn't devoured a single human they'll respect the Master's judgment. I doubt anyone will raise a hand against her now."

Her tone shifted, nostalgic. "My sister was a lot like you. Caring, kind... always trying to protect me. She sympathised with demons just like you and Tanjiro. Even on the brink of death, she pitied demons. I was never able to. How can you pity something that kills humans?"

Her smile faded. "If that's truly how she felt, then I must carry on her will to find a way to stop killing those pitiful creatures while keeping the smile she loved."

She looked down, her voice trembling. "But I'm tired...so very tired."

Standing up she looked at the sky "Demons do nothing but lie," she whispered. "But Hana..." she looked at Hana, her eyes shimmering. "Please protect Tanjiro and Nezuko to the end. Knowing you're out there fighting for them... puts me at ease."

Hana looked up to Shinobu and gave her a soft understanding smile.

Shinobu smiled and patted her back. "Goodnight, Hana. Take care."

And with that, she vanished in a blur, leaving Hana alone in her thoughts.

"Mother... Hanako, Takeo, Shigeru, Rokuta..." Hana whispered. "I promise... Tanjiro and I will turn Nezuko back into a human."

----

The next morning, Aoi frowned. "You came alone again today, Tanjiro?"

"I'm sorry! I tried to get them to come, but..." he bowed deeply.

"Well, it doesn't matter," Aoi sighed.

"Now then, let's get to training," Hana said encouragingly.

"Right!" Tanjiro smiled.

Hana helped Tanjiro train again, showing him new techniques for sword swings and stances, and making him push through exhaustion.

From the doorway, Hana noticed Inosuke and Zenitsu peeking inside.

"Zenitsu! Inosuke!" Tanjiro called out-but they bolted immediately.

Hana rubbed her temple in frustration.

----

The next day, Haganezuka arrived his mask gleaming, aura radiating fury accompanied by another swordsmith. They carried Tanjiro's and Inosuke's reforged Nichirin blades.

"How dare you snap my sword in two?!" Haganezuka bellowed. "You've got some nerve!"

"I'm sorry! But to be honest, I came this close to being killed!" Tanjiro stammered.

"It wasn't his fault!" Hana tried to explain.

"You're the one to blame!" Haganezuka shouted, smacking Tanjiro on the head. "My sword would never break like that! You're just weak!"

"But that's not true!" Hana protested.

"I'm going to kill you!" Haganezuka roared, chasing him around with a butcher's knife.

"Haganezuka-san, stop!" Hana yelled, running after them, trying to protect her poor brother.

Shinobu and Aoi watched the chaos from the side.

"Is that a new training regimen?" Shinobu asked mildly.

"Probably not," Aoi muttered.