17 Nichirin Blade

"Who the hell cares about some stupid crows?" The boy yelled before grabbing onto the white-haired girl's hair.

Seeing this Hiroto immediately disappeared from his spot and sent a kick towards the boys' face. *Boom* "Gack!"

The boy yelled out, as he rolled away, bleeding from the side of his mouth.

"You should get your temper under control, or it might lead to a worse scenario being played out compared to this," Hiroto said looking down towards the kid, who's clutching the side of his face with a footprint on it.

Tanjiro walked and stood behind Hiroto, eyeing the kid down. Although he thought that Hiroto was a little excessive, the angry kid still needed to be stopped.

"Have you finished chatting?" The black-haired girl said standing in front of the table.

The kid looked once more towards Hiroto with a gaze of resentment before muttering *tsk* and turning away.

Pulling the purple cloth off of the table, revealed various sizes of ores. Laid out of the table.

"Now, please choose one of the ores for your sword." She concluded.

"The steel for the sword, that will annihilate demons and protect you… will be of your choosing." The girl said.

"Well, not that I'm going to live very long. Probably." Zenitsu muttered sadly from behind.

Ignoring this, Hiroto walked up to the table and studied the ores one by one. The others soon followed him.

Concentrating his eyes, his gaze slowly shifted towards an ore that seems to have a small, but sharp gleam towards its edges. Reaching over, he said, "I choose this one." Before taking it.

*sniff* Tanjiro sniffed the air and followed suit before choosing his ore.

[Unknown location]

A man dressed in a white, red and purple kimono sat down in his pavilion as he stroked a crow.

"I see, so 6 of them managed to survive huh?" The man said. "The number of my children has increased again..."

[On the way towards Mt. Sagiri]

Hiroto and Tanjiro were both walking back towards Mt. Sagiri. Tanjiro was covered in dirt and some wounds here and there. Hiroto supports him as they both continue on their journey.

"Big bro, I never got to ask the Demons about a cure… They would always attack me before I could or ignore me." Tanjiro sad, looking crestfallen.

Ruffling his hair, Hiroto said, "It's fine, you did well surviving on your own. We'll always get more chances in the future to make up for it. We can't be too rushed."

Nodding his head, they both continue forward for several more hours. As night descends the two finally reach the top of the path and can see their hut in the distance.

"Finally, we made it back," Hiroto said, still supporting Tanjiro.

"Nezuko… Urokodaki-san…" Tanjiro said weakly.

*crrck* The door of the house sounded out as a small girl with long black hair and vermillion tips stepped out of the house in her pink kimono covered by a black haori.

"... Nezuko…" Hiroto looked towards Nezuko, who turned to face us.

"You… You're awake?" Tanjiro muttered, tearing up upon seeing her little sister healthy.

Tanjiro gets out from under my arms and starts running forward.

"Nezuko!" Tanjiro shouted, but trips on the ground from his wounds. Running forward I catch him before he falls.

Nezuko reached us and embraced Tanjiro's head. Tanjiro hugged her back and started weeping. "Ahhh… Why… Why'd you fall asleep all of a sudden? Never waking up once! I was worried you were going to die, you know?!" Tanjiro cried.

Kneeling to their side, Hiroto hugged them both, tearing up a bit while patting Nezuko's head.

"I'm happy you're fine Nezuko… we were both so worried. Thank god you're fine…" Hiroto muttered.

*thunk* Urokodaki dropped the firewood in his arms to the ground when he saw the siblings embracing each other.

Walking forward, he hugs us and says, "You came back to us alive." Tears coming from the side of his red tengu mask.

"Yea… we're back." Hiroto muttered quietly.

The sounds of Tanjiro weeping continued and the 4 continued to embrace each other in relief and joy.

Moving back into the house, Hiroto, Tanjiro, and Urokodaki were sitting facing each other next to the fire.

Tanjiro told them the story of having faced a morphed demon who had a vengeance against the students of Urokodaki, killing and absorbing them.

"I see. You killed that morphed demon." Urokodaki said.

"Good job, that couldn't have been an easy fight for a Demon of that size." Hiroto said, ruffling his hair proud of what Tanjiro did."

"At last…" Urokodaki said, with a husky voice. "I'm truly impressed that you both made it back."

"There are several kinds of Demons. The Demons who use a special spell called the "Blood Demon Art" possess supernatural abilities.

Both Hiroto's and Tanjiro eyes widen at the revelation. "You two may have to fight those demons, as well, from now on. Battling them will be far more difficult than anything you've known until now." Urokodaki said.

Hiroto, hearing this, clenched his fists together in agitation.

"Even so, I'm sure that both you, Hiroto, Tanjiro, will be fine against them." Urokodaki continued.

"Right/Right." Both siblings responded at the same time.

Looking off to the door leading towards their room, Tanjiro spoke up. "Umm, I think that Nezuko's not like the other Demons. Do you think it could be that Whatchamacallit art?"

"No, I don't think so," Urokodaki said. "I wouldn't call that an example of the Blood Demon Art. I'm just guessing here… but it could be that Nezuko's recovering her strength by sleeping instead of consuming human flesh."

Hiroto stood up and asked Urokodaki, "When did Nezuko wake up?"

"2 days after you left," Urokodaki said, looking at Hiroto's back.

"I'm tired, I'll head in first," Hiroto said, walking into the bedroom closing the door behind him.

Kneeling next to Nezuko sleeping, Hiroto once again started wiping her face down as he muttered softly. "I'm proud of you, for being able to resist the temptation, Nezuko… It must have been hard on you. Trust in me and your brother, we'll turn you back into a Human. No matter what it takes."

[15 Days Later]

A person wearing a long brownish haori with yellow sunspots was walking up the path.

*ding ding* Wearing an oversized straw hat over his head, the bells attached around it sounded out as he walked on. Next to him was a similar person, wearing a green haori with the same pattern and hat on.

On their backs was a big box wrapped in a cloth tied to the front.

Under their hats, the two were wearing a Hyottoko mask on their faces as they walked up the path.

Arriving in front of the door, they stood silently. Both Hiroto and Tanjiro stood at the entrance to their home as they asked, "Um... "

The man in the yellow haori spoke up, "My name is Haganezuka. I have forged Tanjiro Kamado's sword."

Next to him, the man in the green haori spoke up, "My name is Atsuhiko. I have forged Hiroto Kamado's sword."

"We are here to deliver it." The two said in sync.

Upon realizing this, Hiroto and Tanjiro bow towards the two figures before stating their names one at a time.

"I'm Hiroto Kamado/I'm Tanjiro Kamado." The two said one after the other.

"Please come in-" Tanjiro said but was ignored as the two men turned around and started unwrapping the cloth.

"This is the Nichirin sword," Haganezuka said. "And I forged it.

Atsuhiko spoke up. "This is a better Nichirin sword. Forged by yours truly."

Tanjiro was confused and said again, "Umm, please come in so I can serve you some te-"

"The materials for a Nichirin sword can be obtained from the mountain closest to the sun," Atsuhiko said.

"Tsk," Haganezuka said, before quickly saying. "Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Crimson Ore. These produce steel that can absorb sunlight." Pointing up towards the sun.

Hiroto stood there baffled, before whispering to Tanjiro, "Is it just me, or does it sort of seem they have a feud against each other?"

"Umm… hahaha." Tanjiro replied before laughing wearily.

Meanwhile, Nezuko was wrapped up in her futon, cultivating the way of the blanket burrito.

Back outside, Atsuhiko spoke up, "Mt. Yoko is bathed in sunlight all day long, you se-"

"Never a cloud in the sky, nor any rain." Haganezuka interrupted him quickly.

Urokodaki sat inside said emotionlessly. "There they go again, never listening to what others say..."

Tanjiro tried to speak up in between them saying, "You're going to get dirty, so could you get up please and come inside?"

Turning around quickly, both Haganezuka and Atsuhiko close in on both Hiroto and Tanjiro's faces. "Hey, you," Atsuhiko said. "You're a Child of Brightness, aren't you? Oi, idiot Haganezuka seems like my client is better than yours," he said provocatively.

"Oi, you 1 digit IQ idiot, open your eyes and look at this kid, he has red hair and eyes." Haganezuka rebutted pointing towards Tanjiro's head.

Tanjiro responded, "Oh no, I'm the son of Tanuro and Kie." Raising his hand up to stop him.

"Tsk, why you." Atsuhiko turned to Haganezuka and said, you're just jealous you half washed street performer."

Turning towards Hiroto, Atsuhiko continued saying, "When children like you two are born into a family that works with fire…" Before shoving his finger into Hiroto's cheeks. "It's considered lucky and a cause of celebration."

Haganezuka then stole the rest of Atsuhiko's lines and said, "There's a good chance that your sword will turn red! Isn't that right, Urokodaki."

"Yea" The voice of Urokodaki sounded from inside the home.

Moving inside the home, both Hiroto and Tanjiro were kneeling with their katana's in hand.

Tanjiro's hilt was wrapped in black leather with red inlays in between with a black handguard.

Hiroto's hilt was wrapped in red leather with purple inlays in between, along with a red handguard.

Waving his hands in front of him, Haganezuka explained, "Nichirin swords are also known as "Color Changing Swords."

Stealing Haganezuka's thunder, Atsuhiko pushed his face away and butted in saying, "They can change color depending on the bearer."

Looking down at their katana, Tanjiro first slowly drew his out of the sheath. Taking it out completely, everyone looked towards the blade in anticipation.

Admiring the gleam for a second, Tanjiro then began to see a black color starting to emerge from the handguard, and slowly creeping up the length of the blade.

"Black?!" Haganezuka shouted, puffing steam out of the long mouth attached to his mask.

"Hahahaha, how's that huh you dried salmon?" Atsuhiko laughed at Haganezuka.

"It's black, huh?" Urokodaki said.

"Is it unlucky?" Tanjiro asked worriedly.

Haganezuka was shaking in his seat, as Urokodaki explained, "No, not necessarily. But you don't see this pitch-black color too often.

"AHHH!! And I was so hoping I'd get to see a bright red sword!" Haganezuka shouted out in anger lashing his hands out. "DAMMIT!!" Blowing steam out of his mouthpiece."

Lunging towards Tanjiro, Haganezuka started twisting his body in anger.

As Haganezuka was shouting, Hiroto took his sword out of the sheath slowly. The others stopped looked towards him.

"Taking it out, the blade was silver in color, the original. Slowly the color started changing...