The dawn broke, and rays of sunlight fell over the mountain.
The low melody of a violin sounded in the dense forest. The enchanting tune sounded quietly throughout the region. It wasn't loud, but every living being could hear it. Carrying with it the emotions of the musicians.
It conveyed love and pity toward sufferers. The music was so emotional that for the time, even prey abandoned their hunt and sat together to listen to the divine melody.
After a whole night, Tanjiro still wasn't able to kill the demon. His kindness toward every creature prevents him from being decisive.
Faint sunlight fell over the demon's head lodged in the tree.
AAAHHH!
Even that faint sunlight was enough to ignite and turn the demon's head to ashes.
"Just a touch of sunlight did that? No wonder Nezuko fears it," Tanjiro mumbled to himself.
'That man!'
He remembered the mysterious guy who suddenly walked up behind him.
Sensing the scent and the sound of music, he walked toward the way station where everyone was. Nezuko was in her basket, poking her head and swaying with the notes. Kie was leaning against the wall with her eyes closed.
"Where is that man, Nior-san?" he asked the player of the beautiful song.
"That guy? He is burying the bodies of the dead," Nior paused and replied.
Just then, the man wearing a Tengu mask appeared at the door.
'So silent!'
Tanjiro was startled again.
"I am Sakonji Urokodaki. You must be the one Giyu told me about"
Sakonji then looked toward Nior and said, "That was a beautiful song. I have never heard this kind, but judging from your appearance, it seems to be from a foreign country."
"Yes, it's from a different place," Nior replied, showing his violin.
"Giyu told me about you. You are a great swordsman. Looks like you are good at music too," he said with a smile, though no one except Nior can see it.
"I am honoured by the former Water Hashira's compliments," Nior said while elegantly bowing his head and violin lightly.
Sakonji nodded, pleased with the polite gesture, and turned toward Tanjiro again.
"I am Tanjiro Kamado. They are my sister and mother - Nezuko Kamado and Kie Kamado. He is my friend Nior Valentine-san," Tanjiro introduced everyone.
"Tell me, Tanjiro..." Sakonji looked Tanjiro in the eyes.
"... What will you do when your sister eats someone?"
Tanjiro couldn't answer immediately.
SLAP!
"You think too slowly," Sakonji scolded.
"You struggle over the simplest decisions. You couldn't finish off the demon before the dawn. Why couldn't you answer that question immediately? You are too kind."
"When your sister eats someone, there are two things you have to do - kill your sister, then slit your own belly and die. That is what it means to travel with your sister who has become a demon!"
"But it is your duty to ensure that this never happens. Your sister must never take the life of an innocent person. Do you understand what I am saying?"
"YES," Tanjiro shouted.
"Very well, I will test you to see if you have what it takes to be a demon-slayer swordsman."
He looked at Nior, "You can also come."
Sakonji knew that a foreign swordsman had no obligation to risk his life to slay demons. But, if such a talented individual wants to learn breathing techniques, then he will teach him.
Tanjiro then picked up Nezuko and went ahead towards Sakonji. Now, only Nior and Kie remained.
Kie took a step forward, but her body felt weak, and she stumbled. Nior arrived instantly to hold her.
"I just slipped, Nior-sama," she said quickly with a hint of red on her face. Being held by the muscular arms of a man got her flustered.
"Your body is going through changes because of my blessing. You can't walk like this," Nior said and gently picked her up in a princess carry.
"Ni... Nior-sama! I can walk, please put me down," she squeaked. Her face was now completely red to her ears.
"Just stay there. We will reach our destination quickly," Nior's gentle voice calmed her down.
'He smells good'
She hadn't noticed earlier, but now that she was close, she could smell him. He smelled like the most fragrant flower. She unconsciously leaned closer to take in more of that incredible smell.
Sniff sniff
Nior looked down with his mouth wide open. He smartly chose to ignore.
'If I don't think about it, I won't get a headache'
His reasoning was simple.
So, with Kie in his arms, his figure launched towards Tanjiro in a blur.
---
Tanjiro was trying his best to keep up with Sakonji. He was running at his full speed and was already out of breath, but he still couldn't match the speed of the former Water Hashira.
'Hff hff... He's fast. His feet also don't make any sound. Hff hff, How old is this guy?'
"You are already huffing, Tanjiro?"
Looking back, Tanjiro saw Nior running just as easily as the old guy ahead. He was carrying someone in his hands.
It was-
"Mother?"
'Oh no! I was so worried about Nezuko that I forgot Mother.'
"Haha! Keep trying. We are going ahead."
Tanjiro saw Kie hiding her face in Nior's chest, not saying anything. Looking at this scene, he thought something.
'Suffering is all you have known, mother. You wore old clothes so that we could save some money for festivals. Even after Dad died, you always put our needs first.'
Then he looked towards the figure ahead with broad shoulders. 'If it's Nior-san, I wouldn't mind,' he thought with a smile.
Ahead, Nior felt the emotional fluctuation and a gaze on his back. He wasn't actively reading everyone's mind, but such strong emotions are difficult to ignore.
And it seems to be originating from-
'Tanjiro? The hell are you thinking, brat!'
'Ignore it. More important matters now,' Nior thought and turned his head at his side towards Sakonji.
"Old man, you are really fast. Aren't you worried that you will break your knees?" He asked with a cheeky smile.
Sakonji felt his lips twitch. He chose to ignore the woman in Nior's arms, blaming today's youths for being so bold.
"Breathing Techniques give humans strength, stamina, and endurance compared to demons. Something like this is nothing, even for old folks."
"That's good. Let's speed up. I want to spar with you."
"Alright. Younger people should be energetic," he said with a smile behind his mask, which Nior clearly saw.
Then they sped up a bit, making sure Tanjiro could follow their tracks.
They arrived at Sakonji's home not long after. Wisteria was growing along the way. That way, demons cannot come near the place where Demon Slayers get trained.
Tanjiro also arrived carrying Nezuko. They left Nezuko in Kie's care and left the house.
Nior went to an open area behind the house while the other two left to continue Tanjiro's real test.
Five minutes passed. Nior suddenly looked towards a direction and raised his dimly lit red sword to parry a sudden attack.
"Your sword is not a Nichirin blade. Why does it still glow?" Nior head Sakonji's voice from behind, and put his sword above his head to block another attack.
"Why do you think only Japan can forge special swords?" Nior replied calmly and, taking a step sideways, dodged a circular slash. He could see the shadow of flowing water, suggesting it was a Water Breathing Technique.
"That explains it. I still have lots of things to learn," Sakonji nodded and accepted the bullshit answer.
Bending his legs slightly, Nior targeted Sakonji's legs, but his attack got blocked midway.
"Heh"
Nior smirked and applied a slight force, just enough to make Sakonji's hand hurt a little.
Nior had already learnt Water Breathing when he was fighting with Giyu. Now, he is just refining the basic forms of his own Breathing Style. Of course, without magic.
'Let's take it up a notch'
Nior raised his sword high above his head and slashed downward fiercely. The sudden increase in speed caught Sakonji off guard, and he got a cut on his haori. He then brought his sword back slightly and slashed horizontally, then, turning his blade backwards, slashed again. Nior deflected them easily and brought his sword upwards in a diagonal slash that made a cut on Sakonji's right arm.
"You are very talented. I have never seen someone move so fluidly," Sakonji praised the young man.
He was genuinely impressed. Even though he was old, he was still a former Water Hashira and had killed hundreds of demons. His strength was still more than enough to fight with the Lower Moons.
"Thanks for the praise. Let me show you something even more interesting," Nior smiled and jumped back, his sword lighting slightly.
Sakonji also backed away.
Both got into a stance and launched towards each other at the same time.
Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel
Battle Arts: Crescent Slash
In a flash, they ran past each other.
Nior stood calmly, completely unscathed and put his sword in the sheath on his back.
On the other hand, Sakonji had a large cut over his mask. It got sliced in two cleanly from the middle.