"Hah...! Hah...! Hah...! Hah...!" A cadence was chanted to match the sound of a blade being slashed through the air repeatedly as drops of sweat pelted the dirt that was underneath.

"Alright, that's enough." Your voice called as two pairs of exhausted sighs filled the air as you watched Lynn and Tanjirou collapse to their knees in exhaustion.

It had been a day and a half since Tanjirou and Lynn were both given the okay to resume their basic training to restore themselves to one hundred percent functionality. Seeing that Lynn was being trained to become stronger by you, Tanjirou begged his comrade to at least convince you to let him be around you two while you trained Lynn, and he would follow along, seeing it as a good opportunity to try and learn somethings from someone else and add additional moves to his arsenal. At first, you wanted to squash him and throw him aside, but Lynn convinced you otherwise and you just chose to ignore his existence entirely, which Tanjirou was more than grateful enough instead of being squished. The training was grueling for the two as on top of that, they were also training their breathing to maintain Total Concentration Breathing, Constant. They gasped for air and struggled to stand as you walked away from them to rest nearby under a tree.

"I feel like...dying..." Tanjirou gasped as Lynn leaned back while heavily breathing in as much air as she could.

"As expected...from someone like my lord..." Lynn said as the two hobbled back to the perch of the nearby house and sat down before taking gulps of medicinal water from the gourds they had.

"Ahhh!" Tanjirou gasped in relief as he leaned back using one arm to support him from behind. "By the way, Lynn-san..." He trailed off as Lynn looked at him when he called her name. "...What style of breathing do you use? I've been curious to know since we got to know each other better here." He asked with curiosity as Lynn was surprised by this and a little perplexed.

"Ahh, that..." Lynn trailed off a little unsure of how to answer. "...To tell you the truth, I haven't learned any style of breathing yet. I've been relying on just the most fundamental techniques a swordsman can use..." She admitted as Tanjirou was shocked by this information.

"Huh? Really? That's amazing. You've managed to come so far without even learning a breathing style. I'm a bit envious." Tanjirou admitted as Lynn looked at him with confusion.

"No...I'd say that I've been lucky up until now. I barely managed to make out of that mountain alive. I think I would've been a goner if Lord Y/N hadn't slain the lower moon demon that was on that mountain." Lynn said while admiring you from afar. "If I wanna have any sort of chance of reaching my goal of avenging my family, I have to get stronger and learn a breathing form soon." She said while looking down at her own hands in somewhat disappointment.

"I know!" Tanjirou said in a loud voice as this surprised Lynn.

"W-What?" Lynn asked in shock as he stared at her with a huge smile.

"Why don't you make your own?" Tanjirou suggested as Lynn was shocked by this advice.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Lynn asked with a raised brow while taking another sip of water.

"Ah! Sorry, I should've worded that more specifically..." Tanjirou said while scratching his head awkwardly. "...What I meant was that maybe you should couple your breathing style to moves that you learned from from Lord Y/N. You could create a whole new breathing form based around him." Tanjirou said as Lynn turned her head to watch you in the distance.

"A new breathing form based on my Lord..." Lynn contemplated deeply on the thought as she turned back to Tanjirou. "...but, what would I even call it? My form needs a name and how many styles should I create? There's too many complications..." Lynn said in confusion of the whole idea and what she should do.

"It'll be fine, I'm sure of it. I believe you'll think of something." Tanjirou said as he continued to eat their snacks while Lynn stared over at you with deep contemplation.

"My own style..." Lynn thought as she remembered watching you and your father duel one another and tried to make note of anything that would help her in creating a new style of attack. "...this is gonna take forever..." Lynn thought as she leaned and laid down on the wood floor while kicking her dangling feet back and forth in boredom.

"Lynn-san. Tanjirou-san. It's time for rehabilitation training." A voice called out as Lynn arched her neck to look back from her laid down position and Tanjirou turned around to see Aoi walking towards them.

"Okay." Tanjirou said while he and Lynn both got up.

"I'll see you in a bit, My Lord." Lynn waved at you was you watched her leave inside with the other two.

The rest of their days were spent training and getting stronger again to go back on missions. They were grueling and arduous, but the training was paying off as their breathing techniques were beginning to get better and they felt their bodies begin to keep up with the training. About 15 days had passed and Lynn was walking through the gardens after getting a gourd of water, when she noticed a shadow of a person on the ground. Following it to where it originated, Lynn saw Tanjirou on top of the roof of the building she was next to.

"Huh? Tanjirou is still going even at this hour? Well, I can't fall behind." Lynn thought as she jumped up and grabbed the edge of the roof before hoisting herself up and getting on top of the roof as she approached Tanjirou. "Hey, Tanjirou." She called as Tanjirou opened his eyes in reaction.

"Lynn-san, what are you doing here?" Tanjirou asked in confusion.

"I was just getting some water when I saw what you were doing. Mind if I join?" Lynn asked as Tanjirou shook his head and she sat down and the two began Total Concentration Breathing, Constant.

The two of them were in deep concentration, letting out controlled breaths and holding in even longer ones to expand and strengthen their lungs. While controlling her breathing, Lynn began to think about all the training she had done, and remembered what Tanjirou said about creating a breathing style based off of you. This thought lingered in her mind as she tried her best to think of something, but the fights you've been in were always ended before she could examine, or she was too far to see what was going on. However, after thinking about those, she began to unconsciously think about all the time she has gotten to spend with you. How you listen to her with no complaints, how you give time to spend with her to train her, and how you haven't left her side even though you could do so at any point in time. The image of her being cuddled up next to you in your fur as she chatted away was stilled in her mind as she couldn't help but feel so at ease thinking about you. She was so concentrated on her breathing and you however, both her and Tanjirou couldn't hear the voice calling them in their ears.

"Yoo-hoo...! Yoo-hoo...! Yoo-hoo...!" The voice called out a third time and a little louder as this caught both their attentions and they snapped their eyes open as Shinobu was crouched with her face between the two slayers.

"I can see you two are working very hard." Shinobu said with a gentle smile as the two turned their heads towards her and they blushed in shock of how close her pretty face was before backing away a bit.

"Lady Shinobu!" Lynn yelped in surprise as the Hashira leaned very close to Tanjirou.

"Even though your friends went off somewhere..."Shinobu whispered before sitting down between the two of them and turning to Lynn. "Don't you feel lonely all by yourselves? Or perhaps I was interrupting something?" Shinobu said while covering her mouth playfully as Tanjirou was confused and Lynn blushed even deep.

"N-N-No! There was nothing else going on! Just Concentration Breathing!" Lynn stuttered as Shinobu just giggled and Tanjirou could only raise his brow in confusion.

"Nope! Because once we've mastered it ourselves, we can teach them, too!" Tanjirou answered as Shinobu and a flustered Lynn glanced over at him.

"You two have quite beautiful souls, don't you?" Shinobu said as the two were both flustered now by the Hashira's compliment as they turned away and Shinobu looked out to the starry sky in front of her as well.

"Why did you bring us all here?" Tanjirou asked as Lynn was perplexed by this question, and Shinobu responded without hesitation.

"Nezuko and Y/N's existence have been officially acknowledged, and the four of you were injured so seriously..." Shinobu trailed off for a moment before picking back up. "...and also, I'd like to entrust my dream to you two." She said as this surprised and confused the two young ones.

"Dream?" Tanjirou asked while the two of them turned towards her.

"Yes. My dream that we can become friends with the demons. I'm quite sure you can accomplish that!" Shinobu said while turning to Lynn. "Lynn, you've already become so close to Y/N. I'm sure things could change soon with the way you two interact with demons." Shinobu said as Tanjirou picked up on a scent coming from Shinobu.

"Are you angry?" Tanjirou asked as this question visually surprised Shinobu as she turned around to Tanjirou, shocked by how he knew. "For some reason, I'm always picking up an angry scent from you even though you're always smiling." He said as Shinobu looked back off in the distance once more.

"Yes." Shinobu said in a sigh as her shoulders dropped a little. "You're right. It might be true that I'm in a constant state of anger. Ever since my beloved big sister was slaughtered by a demon. Every time I see the tears of those who've lost their loved ones to a demon, every time I hear those cries of despair..." Shinobu trailed off while closing her eyes and lowering her head. "...the anger keeps building up inside me and continues to swell." She said while opening her eyes with a sad look in them. "Deep down in the innermost depths of my body, there's a revulsion that I can't fight. I'm sure the other Hashira feel something similar, as well. Well, this time, they saw Nezuko, who's never devoured a human, and Y/N who responded to the pleas of a young human girl, with their own eyes, and they've memorized their presences. Out of respect for the Master's wishes, I don't think anyone will raise a hand to them." She finished as Tanjirou and Lynn were both left in awe of what she had just explained to them. "My big sister was a kind-hearted person like you. She had sympathy for demons. Even when she was on the brink of death, she still felt pity for them. I couldn't bring myself to feel that way. How can you feel sorry for something that's killed humans?" Lynn saw the turmoil that stirred in Shinobu's eyes and felt the tremble in her voice. "But if that was how my sister truly felt, then I must carry it on. If there's a way not to kill these pitiful demons, I have to keep trying to come up with it. Without ever extinguishing the smile that my sister said she loved..." Shinobu couldn't help but remember the sad final moments she had clutching her dying sister in her arms as Lynn began to tremble and tear up at the story. "But now, I'm a bit exhausted. Demons do nothing but lie. Losing all reason out of self-preservation, they murder humans with their instincts laid totally bare." Shinobu said before standing up as the two young ones raised their heads to keep their eyes on her. "Tanjirou, Lynn, please do all that you can. Please find a way to protect Nezuko until the end. Find a way to show to Y/N that we humans don't deserve to be killed for merely being in someone's way. Knowing that you're both working so hard in my place reassures me to no end. I can rest easy now." Shinobu said as the two were speechless from her words.

"L-Lady Shinobu..." Lynn was trembling with sadness from hearing her story as a cold breeze blew by.

"Your Total Concentration Breathing has come to a halt." Shinobu said as they both gasped when they realized this as Shinobu quietly snickered and smiled before suddenly vanishing from the rooftop.

"Lady Shinobu..." Lynn muttered under her breath before the two of them resumed their Total Concentration Breathing. "...I promise, your dream will come true. Me and My Lord will make sure of it." Lynn thought while putting her full focus into her breathing technique.

Meanwhile, Shinobu had appeared in another part of the garden and was walking back to her room when she felt a cold breeze blow by. Stopping her tracks, she turned around knowing that there was a presence behind her and saw you standing a few feet away with your sheathed Tenseiga that you took when Lynn wasn't holding onto it. There was nothing but silence as the two of you stared at one another before she finally decided to break the silence.

"Is there something you would like to talk about?" Shinobu asked.

"That night we first encountered each other. There is nothing I regret about killing your subordinates." You said as Shinobu's body twitched from this line and she wanted to reach for her blade at her side, but stopped at your next set of words. "However, Lynn trusts you and is determined to keep your promise. That's why at the least..." You said while turning away and looking up at the moon as was confused at what you said next. "...I can give them peace and alleviate them of their regrets." You said as Shinobu felt even more turmoil and conflict in her heart.

"...Why...?" Shinobu asked as you turned towards her direction. "...why are you doing this...? It doesn't make sense...I don't get you..." Shinobu's bawled fists shook as tears hit the ground below her. "How could someone who can cut down innocent people so easily be offering the chance to give the dead peace? I don't understand anymore...!" Shinobu grit her teeth as while letting her tears fall as you stepped in front of her.

"I did it because you were going to pursue me. I have no regrets or guilt for my actions. You have a deep hatred for me. Do as you please, I have no reason to stop you." You said as she stared at you with anger through her teary eyes as she drew her blade.

"HHHAAAAAHHHHH!!!!" Shinobu yelled as she slashed through your clothing and scraped her blade against your flesh, sending blood into the air.

She did this numerous times between delivering small slashes across your flesh, or piercing your skin with the point of her blade. Shinobu continued to cut and stab you over and over as you stood there, almost unaffected by the attacks and immune to her poison. After some time, her swings began to slow to the point she dropped her sword and began to just pound her fists softly against you. Soon, she practically collapsed onto you while holding on to your torn clothing and sobbing into your fur.

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"...why...why did my big sister have to die such a tragic death...?" Shinobu sobbed as you just stared down at her. "...big sister...big sister..." She repeated as a warm feeling surrounded her and she looked up to see your fur around her.

"Take me there." You said while slowly ascending into the air.

"Where?" Shinobu asked.

"Their graves." You said as you flew into the night sky with her as she was shocked, but for some reason, guided you to the burial site if her comrades.

While flying through the night sky, Shinobu couldn't help but be amazed by how close she was to the clouds and stars above her. The crescent moon shone its light all over the land below and she couldn't help but be captivated by the amazing view she had of the lands. However, when she turned her head a bit towards you, she was instantly captivated by how beautiful you looked with the moon's shine in the background. She didn't want to admit it in her heart, but staring at the man she knew was a demon, she had never seen such a sight before in her entire life. While her sights were stuck on you, she began to feel both of you descend and looked down to see you two had made it to the grave site of the fallen slayers. You landed ever so softly and let down Shinobu as she walked ahead and led you towards the graves she wanted you to see. After walking for a few minutes, you came to a site that had eight head stones in honor of the slayers that you had slain. You walked over and stood centered in front of the head stones as you unsheathed the Tenseiga from your sheath.

"What are you doing?" Shinobu asked as you held the blade out in front of you with the tip of the blade pointed up as you felt it pulse in your hand.

"Stand here." You said as Shinobu was confused by what you were saying, before deciding to move over and stand next to you.

Shinobu stared at you in confusion of what was going on and what you were doing, since there was nothing happening to the graves at all. Though, after waiting a few moments, just before she was going to speak up, a little sphere of light flew by line of sight, catching her attention. Then another orb of light flew by as she followed it to watch it fly in the air. More and more lights began to fill the area as she felt a warm tender feeling envelop her and turned to see the lights coming off of Tenseiga. Just then before her own eyes, Shinobu was shocked when she saw the seven spirits of her fallen comrades that accompanied her that night she met you, and they wore gentle and peaceful smiles on their faces.

"What is this?" Shinobu asked with a shaky voice.

"Their souls are being purified. This way they will be at a peaceful rest." You said as you turned and held the blade out for her to hold.

Shinobu was shocked when you gestured for her to hold the blade, but carefully accepted and took the blade with both hands. She stood awkward and in awe of the how beautiful the area she was in looked. Tears slowly formed and streamed down her eyes as she felt a feeling of forgiveness surround her body, as her subordinates did not blame her for what happened. Weeping while holding the sword, Shinobu felt a pair of hands gently caress and hold her own and looked up in complete shock when she saw her older sister Kanae, stood in front of her, as the grave stone she was stood in front of belonged to her sister. Kanae reached forward and gently wiped the tears away from her sister's face as she gave Shinobu a gentle smile.

"B-Big sister..." Shinobu called to her as Kanae reached forward and caressed Shinobu's face gently and Shinobu held her hand close, not wanting to let go of the feeling.

After a few more moments, the spirits of her sister and subordinates slowly began to fade, but Shinobu did not look sad, but instead showed her smile that she promised her sister she would always keep. All the spirits soon turned into bright orbs of light before being carried off by a gentle gust of wind and floating into the night sky, moving on from this world to the next as Shinobu said her final goodbye's to them. Soon, the shining light that Tenseiga emitted had gone and she turned around and handed you the sword as you sheathed it and stared down at her.

"I don't think I'll ever forget what you did...I don't think I could ever forgive what you and other demons do to people..." Shinobu said as you held your solemn stare as she looked you eye to eye. "...but, after all this...I hope that with this feeling of relief I can finally move on and let go of the anger that I've held inside me all these years. Thank you, Lord Y/N." Shinobu bowed her head to you as you walked over and picked her up in your arms while letting her rest in your fur. "H-Huh?" She gasped in surprise.

"It's late. The ones at your home must be worried. Let's go." You said as Shinobu was flustered before burying herself in your fur and held onto its gentle coat as you took off into the night sky once again.

"Big Sister..." Shinobu thought about her sister while staring at you once again with a gentle smile. "...I think your dream is finally coming true..." Were her final thoughts as she couldn't help but fall into a peaceful slumber as she allowed this almighty demon take care of her on the way back to her home, putting trust into a demon for the first time in her life.