Jealousy

28th April, 1950.

6:30 A.M.

The weather is quite calm, good, and cloudy in the spring season.

Ai Hanako leaves the hospital and reaches them.

"Are you both demon hunters? You look too young, around the same age as me," says Ai Hanako.

"No, I am not a hunter. Only he is," Chikafusa points towards Ren and says to Ai.

Ren immediately understands who she is. But he doesn't say anything.

"Woah! You are a demon slayer? It's unbelievable but my father once told me about a kid of my age who became a slayer, not only a slayer but also became a Hashira. I guess that's you, isn't it?" asked Ai.

"Now you're overestimating me, I am not that strong. Also, how are ya feelin' now?" asked Ren politely.

"C'mon, I am not givin' you a compliment. And thanks for asking about my health, it's better now," said Ai.

After some time, a kid around the same age comes towards them and says, "So you're Hajime Ren? I've found you, everyone says that you're the strongest. But you're just a kid like me."

"W..Who are you? And how many kids are here? I thought only adults were allowed to join this corp," said Ai with confusion.

"Only four of us are kids in this corps, and only Hajime-San is allowed to fight the demons. You two recently joined the corps," replied Chikafusa.

The wind starts moving faster, and faster. The other kid stares at Ren and says, "If you're the strongest, fight me and prove it."

"I don't fight humans. And I am not the strongest, Fuji-San is," says Ren.

Ai Hanako interferes between them and says, "Behave yourself. Don't you know how to talk with others? I don't like your way of talking. Where is your family? And what are you doing here?"

This triggers the kid and he says furiously, "Shut up! Don't ya dare to mess with me. I am here to fight this quiet kid. I don't have a family. And my f*ckin' relatives refused to help me. Don't come in my way, I'm telling you."

Ren calms down Ai and says to the kid, "I already told you that I am not the strongest. Wait, I've seen you hunting down some demons even though the corps prohibited you from doing so. Anyway, I won't fight you no matter what."

"Oi Oi Oi! You've guessed it right. I see, you're scared. Behold my power— I am Tsunenari Yoshimitsu," said the kid.

WIND BREATHING 2ND FORM: CLAWS-PURIFYING WIND

Tsunenari Yoshimitsu jumps at Ren and attacks him. Ai and Chikafusa couldn't see correctly because they perceived Tsunenari binding the entire sky full of clouds.

Ren dodges his attack without any problem. He is too fast for Tsunenari to get harmed.

But then lightning strikes so loud near the slayers' hideout that makes all of them frightened except Ren. Even Tsunenari stops moving for a while.

"Tch… how fast is this little punk? I can't even attack him. And he didn't even move an inch by that lightning. What??!!! No way, I remember I've seen his eyes moving towards the thunderbolt before falling on the ground for less than a second. How could anyone even react to the lightning? He didn't even flinch like he already knew what would happen. Someone who can even react to the lightning? He's even stronger than I thought. No good, no good at all. I can't let my guard down, I'll beat him no matter what!!!" thinks Tsunenari.

He lunges at Ren with his full power to knock him down. Ai and Chikafusa couldn't react to his attack. But Ren pulls his right hand and attacks on the carotid artery of his neck which makes Tsunenari immediately fall unconscious.

"I apologize for my actions, Hayate-San. But it's important to stop you," thinks Ren.

Hayate-San was the wind hashira of the Sengoku Era, later he reincarnated into Sanemi Shinazugawa. And now, he's Tsunenari Yoshimitsu.

Both Ai and Chikafusa looked at Tsunenari Yoshimitsu who fell unconscious. Poor Ai thought that Ren murdered Tsunenari.

But a few moments later, Tsunenari gets his consciousness back. "I'll see ya later," Tsunenari says to Ren and leaves them.

"Hajime-San, are you alright?" asked Chikafusa.

"Yes, indeed. But I am thinking about Yoshimitsu-San, maybe I knocked him so hard," says Ren.

Ai Hanako gets so jealous of Ren's skills that she starts leaving them. But before leaving, Ren says to her that he can teach her too if she wants.

"I'll think about it," says Ai without looking at him.

Soon later.

It starts raining which makes all of them go inside a shelter. But there's still someone who is outside in the rain. That is Tsunenari Yoshimitsu.

He is practising with his wooden katana hitting at the trees to increase his strength.

"Why?!! Why is he the only one to fight the demons? Am I not eligible due to age or am I not worth it? I need money… Yes!!! I need money to live… I want money to save my lil bro who is just 3 years old. This lowkey house is not enough for the two of us. I doubt if we can survive longer," cries Tsunenari.

He is training madly to become a demon slayer.

On the other side, Ai is sitting away from Chikafusa and Ren in the butterfly mansion. They both are watching the rain and talking to each other while Ai is sitting in the same room but away from them.

"I shouldn't envy him. Maybe he's beyond my league. But I want to be stronger. I wanted to be a perfect human and strong. Mhm… what am I thinkin'?!! Aah!!!"

Aoi Kanzaki enters the room. She is now around 50 years old and is the owner of the mansion.

Ren and Chikafusa are always happy around her. They enjoy it when she mentions her past and her friends who died while fighting Muzan.

"Kanzaki-Sama, I wanna ask something. You've never told us about your childhood friends who you liked as your sisters. I know their names, maybe Tsuyuri-San, Kocho-San, or something similar," said Chikafusa to Aoi.

"Oh, so you wanna know about Kocho Shinobu, Kocho Kanae and Tsuyuri Kanao. I'm glad you know their names," said Aoi.

Aoi Kanzaki shares a heartfelt narrative about her deep bond with her friends, who she considers to be like sisters to her. She describes the wonderful moments they shared together in a magnificent mansion, originally owned by Kanae, but later transferred to her sister Shinobu after Kanae's death. The speaker also goes on to recount the tragic events that led to the untimely deaths of Shinobu and Kanao, who were killed by the ruthless Upper Moon 2, Douma. She also mentioned their breathing styles, insect breathing and flower breathing.

She continues her story by mentioning her crush who she loved, Inosuke Hashibira. He also got killed by the Upper Moon 2. Later, she had to marry a man who died after some months. She has no son and no one to care about her. She becomes so emotional after telling this all that she is about to cry.

But Ai interrupts her and says, "Woah! I liked the flower breathing, Kanzaki-Sama. I wanna learn it and become strong. I promise you that I'll avenge you and kill that bad demon."

Aoi laughs and says, "I appreciate your courage but he is one of the strongest demons. And now he's even stronger. But I want him to die and suffer in hell forever."

She stays silent for a moment and decides to learn flower breathing.

After that day, Tsunenari and Ai made a solemn vow to become the most powerful demon slayers. They were determined to hone their skills and overcome any obstacle that came their way.

They surpass most of the demon slayers in no time with the guidance of Ren Hajime and Kenzo Fuji. They both didn't like Ren as he was way stronger than them. However, it's touching to know that despite that, Ai still thinks about Ren a lot as he is one of her few friends in this world.

In 4 years, Chikafusa finally becomes the second person to perform the Sun Breathing but is a novice in it. He still has to learn so much.

4 years later.

When Tsunenari, Chikafusa and Ai finally become eligible to be demon slayers, they get their nichirin swords for the first time.

After months of rigorous training, Ai and Tsunenari finally achieved their ultimate physical form. Four years of hard work and dedication had paid off, as their bodies had reached the peak of their potential. However, Ai and Tsunenari are not friends.

12th August, 1954.

10:31 P.M.

Near a river, an old man is lying down beneath a tree. That old man looks around 60 years old.

Tsunenari didn't like him and ignored him. When he tries to pass him, the old man tells him to stop.

"Huh?!! Why are you stopping me?" said Tsunenari.

"Only if you give me your katana then I'll let you go," said the old man.

"Are ya kiddin' me? What an old fart," says Tsunenari and moves forward.

But then the old man yells at him and warns him that if he doesn't give his Katana then he'll have to fight him.

"Cry harder, you old fart. You'll be murdered by my hands," triggers Tsunenari.

The old man lunges at Tsunenari and throws his sword away. Now the old man punches him in his stomach and throws him away.

Tsunenari is in pain now.

"Tsk… how did he become so powerful even at this age? Alright, if he's asking for death then I must fulfill his wish," thinks Tsunenari.