Training under a Teacher to Master a breath style is the foundation of one's body composition as it's adapted to using said breathing techniques, but once that is mastered... the next step comes into play. Finding your limit, and then pushing past it. Conquer all that gets in your way! As now Aokime had a taste of what it felt to fight a skilled Hashira, but now to take on a long time Hashira in a sparring match will be where Aokime will learn how much he has to learn and train to reach that mountain top.

Aokime was training with both his father and Kanae, but soon he will meet the one who saved him that night from the lower rank 4th demon.
"Aokime!"
As they young man leaned back to barely dodge a powerful slash from the wooden sword his father had in his hand.
"It's ok Kanae, I won't hurt him that badly!"
As his Father was chuckling, Aokime was gasping for air as he was breathing extremely heavily. They have been fighting for the past 20 minutes, but only Aokime was running out of stamina. While his Father was calmly in control and only using one hand with his word. His strength of a Hashira was very present to everyone watching.
"Can we *Gasp* please *Gasp* take a *Gasp* break?"
"Already? We were just getting started."
As his father started chuckling, he stabbed the wooden sword onto the floor.
"Oh well. You got ten minutes."
His father started to walk away towards the kitchen to get some onigiris that were being made. Aokime on the other hand collapsed to the floor trying to catch his breath. During his spastic gasps for air, Kanae stood over him with a concerned look on her face.

"Aokime. I think it's best you stop for now. Jumping straight into sparring with your father without prior training is... well... a death wish."
Aokime was forcing himself up, despite being out of energy the entire time. He was pushing himself far past his entire body limit.
"I need... to overcome this. I can't g-give... up!"
Kanae placed her hands around Aokime to hold him down and try to calm him down. Aokime wasn't strong enough to shrug her off, but he was already too weak to hold himself up.
"Aokime. I know you want to get stronger but if you hurt yourself training too hard, you'll end up becoming a liability out on the field."
Aokime didn't want to acknowledge that being the case, but after remembering what happened that day with the other demon slayers he didn't want to let it happen again.

Suddenly as Aokime pulled himself up, he was shocked to see a familiar face towering in front of him.
"Aokime. It's truly sad that you won't listen to the advice of Kanae. She is clearly looking out for you and your well being. Please take her advice."
"Ah thank you, Gyomei. I've been trying to convince him, but he is as stubborn as my sister."
As she said that, she was softly punching Aokime's head out of frustration.
"Gyomei. I just need to train... if I plan to be a Hashira like you guys... I need to train just as hard."
Before Gyomei responded, Kenichi appeared behind Gyomei as he placed his hand on his back.
"Ah Gyomei! It's great to see you again."
"It's good to hear your voice, Sensei."
"I've been wanting to give you my thanks for saving my son from that demon attack at the village."
"Just following the ways of the demon slayer and the oath we uphold."
Kenichi looked at his son who was physical exhausted from the sparring match. He started chuckling as he looked back at Gyomei.
"Gyomei, I know it's sudden to ask something like this of you. Would you be able to help me in training my son? It would help him a lot to work with other Hashiras as he plans to work his way up the ranks."

Gyomei was taken a back from the request from Kenichi as he didn't know how to respond for a moment, but Gyomei had a smile on his face. After a moment of thinking, Gyomei nodded his head.
"I'd be honored sir."
"Great! Haha now I know he is going to grow into a very strong Demon Slayer that will save everyone. I'll also ask Uzui and Sanemi to assist in this process."
Kenichi turned to face his son with a sincere smile that grew across his face.
"You heard that, Aokime? You'll be training with everyone of us here as we will all help you become the man who can save more people. Just don't neglect this opportunity as everyone here wants to help each other."

Aokime let out a sigh of relief for a moment, but couldn't help be bothered by something.
"Father. If I do get the chance to save others from here on out... just know I'll do whatever it takes to protect you and our family."
With an exhausted smile, Aokime out a thumbs up which made Kenichi smile.
"Now that's my son there. Keep your eyes open here folks. You're seeing the next Ice Pillar in the making."
That was when Gyomei realized one of the names Kenichi mentioned on the list of those who can help Aokime was Sanemi.
"Sensei Nishikawa. I know we will all do our best in helping your son train to be your next successor, and you can count on us all that will make sure he gets there. Though, I am not sure if Sanemi would be happy to help in this situation as he is rather... hard to convince."
Kenichi smirked.
"I'll talk to him myself. Hopefully he will compromise somehow in helping."
Just like that, Aokime had Gyomei, Kanae, Uzui, and his Father to assist him in his training that would go on for the next couple of weeks. A hard and grueling training that will push Aokime to his limits.

However, the coming weeks would emerge the first sigh of trouble that would slowly rear it's ugly head out into the night.

[Two weeks later, during the night time]

"Ryoto. Do you really think he will spare your life if you fail on your next hunt? I doubt even I could walk this path of shame that you are on."
"Silence, Rokuro! Do you really think I'd allow myself to fail that easily. Though that Slayer was stronger than I would have anticipated, I won't hold back anymore and rip them all to shreds."
There was a small gathering with three unique demons as they were discussing the situation of the meeting, they were searching for their next hunting grounds.
"Why did you even bring us out here, Ryoto?"
"Because I need all of your help in all of this, Mukage."
The three demons were part of the lower moon six of the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji. They are all assigned from the start to kill Demon Slayers, especially Hashiras.

Normally they wouldn't be together as often, but this occasion was a series of plans to drive groups of Demon Slayers into different sections of this large town to create a large uproar. This would lure in easy prey for them to hunt and rise up the ranks. This plan of Ryoto was to drive a massive impact on the numbers of demon slayers and give an advantage to the demons to freely roam out in the night with little worries for a good period of time. However, Ryoto wanted to pick off a certain Hashira as redemption for what he failed to do with Muzan. His motivations had prepared him to sacrifice any of his comrades if needed just to rise up on the ranks and in the good graces of Muzan. Rallying up a small army of demons, who were promised a buffet of flesh, ready to create a massive chaos of fear and bloodshed. With the numbers of Demon Slayers were going to shift after what will happen tonight.

Back at the butterfly estate, Aokime and Kanae were sitting together under the night sky full of stars. It was already time off from the training and Aokime took the time to rest. However, he had so much on his mind that he stepped outside for air with Kanae curiously following him.
"Having trouble sleeping, Aokime?"
"Yeah. Besides the hard training we had this week alone, I've been thinking about how all this will lead to taking over my father's position as a Hashira. I feel like I have such a long way to go still even though I am training under the best."
Kanae sat next to Aokime. There was a brief moment of silence before Kanae started giggling. Aokime looked at her confused and wasn't sure if he said anything funny.

"You've been training very hard, Aokime. You're very dedicated and focused throughout all of the trainings and I can't tell you how much you've slowly improved. However, getting into Hashira status doesn't just happen overnight. Especially with what is next to be done, you'll have to put all of this training into action each and every time you are out there in the field."
"I know... but I don't want to panic at the sight of a huge threat like last time."
That was when Kanae put her hand on Aokime's hand, making him slightly fluster at the gesture.
"You won't, Aokime. No matter what happens... as a demon slayer you will do whatever it takes to protect everyone. You can and you will. Don't give up on yourself or ever doubt yourself because I believe in you and I know you'll do it. I'll here with you through it all."
Aokime was stunned when her heard her words. All he could do was smile in relief knowing that at least there was someone who had faith in him in all of this. Though the bond Kanae and Aokime formed throughout the weeks of training only grew stronger with each passing day.

However...

their peaceful night would slowly start to crack in a blink of an eye.

"KAAAW! KAAAAW! KAAW! MULTIPLE DEMONS! TOWN IN THE NORTH! ALL DEMON SLAYERS ARE NEEDED! ANY AND EVERY HASHIRA NEARBY REPORT IMMEDIATELY! KAAAAWWW!!"

Kanae and Aokime looked up at the flying crow that was zooming in the air past them. Their faces were shocked at hearing the news as the sound of distress coming from the crow felt even more serious than usual.
"Aokime!"
"Let's get going, Kanae!"
As the two ran inside to get their blades and their haoris before bolting out of the estate towards the north.
"Do you think we will have enough Slayers? This sounds extremely urgent."
"I'm not sure, but the words going out fast and I know for a fact that the other Hashiras will be on approach to the location. Just make sure to focus and do what much be done."
"You got it, Kanae!"
The two were running through the forest and Kanae couldn't help but smile at Aokime. It was short but she knew that this could be the last time they may see each other, but he goal is to stick with Aokime throughout this mission.

How will this all end?

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