7. Final Selection

The air at Mt. Fujikasane was still and heavy, filled with the faint fragrance of wisteria. Dozens of young slayers gathered before the twin children who appeared out of the shadows.

"Everyone..." the twins said in unison, their voices eerily calm.

"...We thank you for coming here tonight, to the Demon Slayer Corps Final Selection," the white-haired girl continued.

"There are monsters imprisoned here on Mt. Fujikasane, captured alive by Demon Slayer swordsmen and unable to leave," she explained.

The black-haired child added, "That is because wisteria, which demons hate, blooms year-round from the bottom to halfway up the mountain."

Tanjiro shifted nervously beside his sister. Hana rested a steadying hand on his shoulder. Demons...trapped here all this time?

The girl continued, "However, from this point on, there is no wisteria. And so, demons abound."

The boy finished, "You will need to survive here for seven days in order to pass Final Selection."

Together, they said "Now, be on your way."

Hana led Tanjiro into the dense, moonlit forest. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves.

Not long after, Tanjiro's nose twitched. "This smell...a demon." His hand flew to his sword.

Hana unsheathed hers immediately. Looking around alert "Stay sharp."

"Above!" Tanjiro shouted.

A demon leapt from the branches, its claws glinting. Hana's sword flashed steel singing as she intercepted its claws mid-swipe.

The demon hissed. "Humans...!"

Tanjiro dashed forward to slash, but another demon ambushed from behind. Hana turned, blocking its claws with a swing. "I'll handle this one! Tanjiro focus!"

The younger Kamado charged his foe, but his movements were tense, panicked. Hana's eyes narrowed. He's doubting himself. If he hesitates, he'll die.

The demon lunged again. Hana ducked low, her breathing steadying. "Total Concentration...Water Breathing!" She leapt, slicing cleanly through the demon's neck. It crumbled to ash behind her.

Turning, she saw Tanjiro tripping over a root, his demon bearing down. He barely rolled aside, fumbling to regain his stance.

"Don't panic!" Hana barked. "Trust yourself!"

Her voice cut through his fear. Tanjiro's eyes sharpened, his breath steadying. "Water Breathing, First Form... Water Surface Slash!" His blade arced, severing the demon's head.

He landed, chest heaving. Hana strode over, patting his shoulder proudly. "That's it. You can do this! Belive it!"

---

The night pressed on. After fending off more demons, a scream rang through the forest. A boy stumbled out, terror in his eyes. "No one told me this! I never signed up for this!"

Hana and Tanjiro looked past him and froze.

A monstrous demon towered before them, body bloated with countless devoured humans. In one grotesque hand, it clutched a corpse, chewing noisily. The stench was overwhelming.

Hana's grip on her sword tightened. "Tanjiro. That thing...demon..it seems different..."

The demon's many eyes found them, narrowing at their fox masks. "Hehehe... another two of Urokodaki's brats. How delightful. It's been so long since I tasted little fox cubs."

Hana's stomach dropped at the name. "Urokodaki.....?"

"Oh yes," the demon sneered. "He captured me, forty-seven years ago. Since then, I've eaten thirteen of you children. Eleven... twelve... thirteen..." It began counting. "That makes you two numbers fourteen and fifteen."

"Fifteen...?" Tanjiro whispered, horrified.

The demon grinned wider. "And oh, how delicious some were. The pink-haired brat with the scar... strong but foolish. And the little girl in the flowered kimono she cried so sweetly before I tore her apart."

"Stop." Hana's voice was low, dangerous. Rage surged in her chest, but she forced it down. "You'll pay for every one of them."

Tanjiro leapt forward recklessly. The demon's massive arms lashed out, swatting him into a tree. His mask shattered, blood streaking his forehead.

"Tanjiro!" Hana's heart lurched. The demon laughed, savoring her fury.

"Total Concentration! Water Breathing! Second Form: Water Wheel!" Hana spun in, slicing off several arms. "I won't let you hurt him!"

Tanjiro staggered to his feet, blood in his eyes, but determination burning.

They moved together, blades flashing in rhythm. The demon flailed, regenerating arms endlessly, but Hana stayed calm. "His weakness is the same as all of them the neck. We cut together!"

The demon sneered. "My neck is tougher than stone! You'll never slice it!"

Their swords crossed in unison, a twin strike severing the neck. The demon's eyes widened in disbelief before its head rolled to the ground, body collapsing.

---

The siblings stood, panting, as the ashes scattered. Tanjiro's face softened when he saw one of the demon's hands extended, as if reaching for comfort. Hana hesitated, then knelt, taking it gently. Tanjiro joined her. The demon's trembling fingers squeezed theirs, tears streaming down its face as its body faded.

"God...if he is reborn... let him be as a human... let him live a happy life..." Tanjiro says with a sad looks on his face.

Hana bowed her head. "Rest now. Your suffering is over."

Tanjiro looked at her, eyes wet but steady. "We did it, Hana."

She nodded, brushing his hair back from his bloodied forehead. "We'll keep doing it. Until no one else has to suffer like this."

Together, they rose and walked deeper into the forest. Their trial was far from over but for the first time, They truly believed they could survive the Final Selection.