4. Training

The Demon Slayer Corps has around several hundred members. It's an organization unrecognized by the government. Yet it's existed since ancient times, and we continue to hunt demons today. But as for who's leading the Demon Slayer Corps, that remains a mystery.

Demons.

Staple food... Humans!

They kill humans and feed on them. No one knows when and where they first appeared. Their physical powers are remarkable. Wounds heal in the blink of an eye. Flesh is restored after being hacked off, and limbs can be newly regenerated. Some demons can even shape-shift.

Others have other worldly powers. They can only be killed by sunlight or by decapitation with a special sword. The Demon Slayers battle the demons with their own mortal bodies. Since they're human, their wounds are slow to heal, Even so, they battle the demons...to protect other humans.

"I am a trainer. I train swordsmanship. There are as many trainers and each of them train their pupils, with their own regimen in their location. To join the Demon Slayer Corps, you must survive the Final Selection on Mt. Fujikasane. Whether you are allowed to participate is my decision," Urokodaki explained to the siblings.

Hana clenched her fists, her heart pounding. Survive...? The word echoed in her mind like a warning bell.

If we fail...does that mean Tanjiro will die?

She bit her lip. No. She would never allow that.

From the very first day, Urokodaki's training pushed them to their limits. Every day, Hana and Tanjiro descended the mountain, navigating the traps he had set. It was grueling. The traps grew progressively more dangerous each challenge designed to push them beyond endurance, to test their will, their strength, their spirit.

It kept getting harder with each passing day.

It was exhausting.

---

"Faster, Hana!" Urokodaki shouted, his voice cutting through the cold mountain air.

"You can't fall behind," she muttered under her breath, running faster.

I will protect Tanjiro...and Nezuko.

----

"Nine hundred ninety-nine," Hana whispered, sweat dripping down her face as she swung her blade.

"Last one, Hana!" Tanjiro called, smiling despite his exhaustion.

"And...one thousand!" she exhaled with relief.

But before she could celebrate, Urokodaki's voice cut sharply through the air: "Five hundred more."

Hana froze, her arms trembling. "What?!" she gasped.

I swear I'm going to die...

But she endured, repeating every swing.

She endured because if she failed, Tanjiro might fall in battle one day and that was something Hana could never allow.

----

"Total Concentration Breathing!" Urokodaki's voice rang out again. "Let the oxygen flow into every cell. Strengthen your body. Steady your spirit. Breathe!"

Hana braced herself, inhaling deeply but was instantly jabbed in the stomach. She collapsed, gasping.

"Gah-!"

Beside her, Tanjiro groaned in pain.

"You're both wrong!" Urokodaki scolded sharply. "Strength is not in the body alone. It comes from conviction, spirit, and determination!"

Again and again, Hana took the blows. Pain surged through her body, but she forced herself back up each time. Sweat and tears stung her eyes, but she refused to stay down.

She would train harder. She would get stronger. For her siblings. No matter what.

---

Seasons passed. The siblings grew stronger. Hana's sword no longer slowed her down instead, it flowed with her movements, like water itself. She was mastering the breathing forms, sharpening her reflexes, learning to fight like a true Demon Slayer.

Yet her heart remained heavy.

Nezuko had been asleep for six months, leaving both siblings increasingly worried. Urokodaki summoned a doctor right away and had him examine her but he found nothing wrong.

At night, Hana often found Tanjiro sitting silently by Nezuko's side, his face clouded with worry. His shoulders slumped, weighed down by fear and helplessness.

It hurt Hana more than she would ever admit.

---

One quiet night, Hana approached him. Her footsteps were soft against the wooden floor, careful not to disturb the stillness of the room. Moonlight spilled through the window, casting a pale glow over Tanjiro, who sat silently beside Nezuko.

"Tanjiro," she whispered softly.

He lifted his head slowly, eyes heavy with exhaustion. "Hana..." His voice was faint, as though even speaking took effort.

She sat beside him. For a long moment, neither spoke. Only the quiet breaths of the two siblings filled the air, the stillness pressing gently around them.

Finally, Tanjiro broke the silence. "I... I can't stop worrying about her. Every day...every night...what if she never wakes up..what if she-" His voice cracked, and he lowered his gaze, hiding the pain in his expression.

Hana's heart ached. She placed her hand over his, her hand brushing gently against his knuckles. "Tanjiro," she said softly, her voice steady yet warm, "everything will be fine."

He looked at her, eyes searching hers. "How can you be so sure?" he asked quietly, doubt threading his tone.

"Because we are in this together," Hana replied firmly, her eyes locking with his. "We will face this no matter what."

Tanjiro blinked, a flicker of hope returning to his weary eyes. "Hana.." he murmured.

She leaned closer, gently holding his face in her hands. "Everything will be alright, Tanjiro," she said with quiet certainty. "I promise. Trust me...we will get through this...Nezuko will be fine."

For a moment, silence settled over them heavy, comforting, filled with unspoken vows. Tanjiro nodded slowly, the weight in his shoulders easing slightly.

Without another word, Hana wrapped her arms tightly around him. Tanjiro relaxed, burying his face into her shoulder. The warmth of her embrace grounded them both.

"I'm here," Hana whispered into his ear. "Always."

Tanjiro stayed still for a long moment, letting the quiet comfort of her hug wash over him. Hana held him a little longer, her resolve deepening with every heartbeat.

I will fight. For Tanjiro. For Nezuko. For the family we have lost and the future that beholds. I will not fail them. I will not let the darkness take them. This is my promise. As their older sister.