(Flashbacks)
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My living conditions were not the greatest. I grew up on a farm on the outskirts of a small village. My family was one of many farming families within the village. My father and grandfather often helped them harvest the crops and often joined the other farmers too the nearby town to sell them. We weren't necessarily poor, but we didn't always have it easy, but I didn't mind. As long as I had my family around, I considered myself lucky.
I might as well tell you about my family. My grandfather, who owned the farm, has been farming for as long as he could remember. He was a wise man, who often shared some of the most interesting stories with me or embarrassed my dad with humiliating stories about him. I laughed at the stories he told, I found them quite entertaining.
My grandmother, a teacher that taught at local schools since she was in her twenties. She retired a few years ago and was replaced with my mother. As an ex-teacher, she often help me with my school work and made sure I understood everything that was taught to me. Not only that but she would cook up my favorite dish everytime I did well in school....ramen. Apart from being a good teacher, she was a kind and caring person.
My mother, like I said, was the current teacher at the time. Apart from teaching me how to read and write, she also cared for me, like any mother would. She made sure that I was a well mannered and well disciplined boy. She'd bathe me and made sure my clothes were clean. Cooked for me and would sometimes play with me. Apart from that she made sure the house was nice and tidy whenever we had visitors around. She also explained to my why the night time was a dangerous time for any human to be out
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"You mustn't go outside Kiyoshi. If you do, evil spirits might take you away and you'll never see us ever again. Do you want that?she asked somberly.
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"No mama, I don't want that. I want to be with my family forever."
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My father, a coldhearted bastard, who had his military career cut short due to an injury he substantiated in the line of duty. After he was told that he couldn't serve in military any longer, his whole future came crumbling down. Everything that he had worked for until that point was all gone. Maybe that's why he was so mean to me...maybe that's why he always pushed me and told me to never give up no matter what challenges lay ahead.
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"You never know when life will throw obstacles your way son, that's why you should always keep pushing. Remember son, no matter what challenges lay ahead, you must overcome them for your own sake. You may say you're weak, but I know you're strong...you're my son after all and I know you will do great things with your life."
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This dialogue that I had with him will always stick out too me. Not because what he said was true but because it's the last time we ever had a genuine conversation with each other. The last we talked before everything was taken away from me.
It was a cold and cloudy afternoon. My father and grandfather were returning to work, but instead of a normal dinner we surprised him with a suprise birthday party. My mother, grandmother and I cooked him his favorite foods and baked him a nice birthday cake. I remember decorating it as best as I could. His face when he saw what he did was something I'll never forget. I saw different emotion other than anger and melancholy, eminent from his face. I saw happiness eminent from his face for the first time. He thanked each and everyone of us and hugged us. I remember hugging him tight that night. Maybe this was a sign that things were beginning to change...and change they would.
After thanking us, we all sat down at the table and dug in at all the amazing food that they had cooked. We chat and laughed and had fun. We sung happy birthday and cut the cake. Opened presents and enjoyed ourselves. I thought the good times would never last. Then all of us heard a loud bang on the door. My father and mother got up, with my grandmother close behind them. My grandfather grabbed and held on too me like how a child would hold onto its teddy bear. My father grabbed a small axe and my mother grabbed a knife. Suddenly a demon barged in with 6 other following close behind him. The leader of the pack stood out.
He was a demon with a skin-tight red turtleneck with blood dripping patterns. He has rainbow colored eyes with the kanji which spelt out a word I could not see clearly. He had spiky hair is around shoulder length which color was that of a silvery gold color. He was also wearing a black and gold crown-like hat and a black coat. He wasn't attacking...yet, but we were cautious. As he came forward, my parents backed away. He sat down at the table and just...smiled at us.
"You have too leave! Now!"my father demanded.
"Is that how you treat your guest? Come on, I'm just trying to have some fun."he said unnervingly. His voice made me uncomfortable. He looks over to my mother and speaks too her.
"My my, who's this pretty lady over her. May I take you on a date sometime lovely lad-"he was reaching for my mother but was stopped my father, who threw the axe at him. It chopped of his arm off and he stopped dead in his tracks.
"Get your hands off my wife you sick fuck!"my father said.
"Well, seems like you've sealed your fate."he quickly grabbed my mother and sucked her being in and instructed his minions to attack, without remorse. The smile he had, always stuck with me. No sympathy for us, even after we pleaded.
My grandmother and father fought them off as my grandfather pick me up. My father fought valiantly against them, but was struck down by one of them. I tried to free myself from the grasp of my grandfather, but held me back. I wanted to help, I wanted to keep them alive. My father wounded 3 of them before making his way too us.
"Father, take Kiyoshi and get him out off here."
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"Papa!"
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"Remember what I told you Kiyoshi. Stat strong and...and live...live for us...for our sake."he said as he gave me a head pat and a warm, defeated smile. My grandfather ran out the window and ran.
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"PAPA!"
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Those were his last words that my father spoke to me...
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My grandfather ran out of the house as fast as he could, holding me tight as we tried to escape the demons running after us. I never realized how fast my grandfather could run, especially at his age. I couldn't see anything, it was pitch dark. Suddenly I was flung forward and landed on the dirt floor. I was hurt, but I got up and limped over to my grandfather, trying to drag him...trying to keep him alive.
"Kiyoshi...it's no use. My time has come."
"Don't say that grandpa. Come on hurry up, they're coming...quickly."
"For as long as I remember, these demons have terrorized the night, inflicting fear onto everyone. But soon enough they will perish. And I want you to live to see that day. For my sake, for you grandmother's, mother's and father's sake. That is our only wish Kiyoshi."
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"Grandpa...please, let's go."I started cry. Why was this happening too me. Why god, why.
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"I truly believe the day will come where we will no longer have to worry about the creatures that lurk at night.... And Kiyoshi, I am certain you will be involved in someway. After all you are my grandson."
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My tears started overflowing, this can't be happening.
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"Go East Kiyoshi. You will meet a man by the name of Urokodaki. He'll take care of you."
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"Please, don't leave me..."I said sobbing.
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He placed his hand on my head and smiled at me one more time.
"Keep on living Kiyoshi. We love you...I love you, my grandson. Now Go..."
I got up and hesitated. I saw them of in the distance. I couldn't leave him... I can't. My natural instincts took over and I started running.
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I ran
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And Ran
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And Ran
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And Ran
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Until I couldn't run anymore. I collapsed down to the muddy floors of the forest and prayed that they didn't follow me. Tears started rolling down my filthy face, as I regretted leaving my grandfather behind. Why am I such a coward, why am I worthless. I should have just stayed with him. I should have died with him.
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I'm sorry Papa...Mama... Looks like your little boy isn't so strong after all."
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"If only I was a little...bit...stronger..."
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I was losing consciousness. Next thing I knew it was dark.
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I woke up the next day, not in the wilderness but in someone's house. I was laying down in a cozy bed with a hellish fever circulating throughout my entire body. I tried getting up but someone didn't allow me.
"Stay in bed. Your going too next all the rest you can get if you want to recover."
I turned to my right to see a man with a Tengu mask. He was a fairly elder looking man, with grey hair.
"Once your fever is down, you'll being training."he stated as he got me some medicine.
"Training for what?"I asked.
"Too become a Demon Slayer
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I cried for the next week or so. I couldn't stop myself, the tears wouldn't stop pouring. The guilt of leaving my family had consumed me, although I knew it wasn't my fault. There was nothing I could do.
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"Stop crying. Crying won't bring them back and crying won't stop the demons from doing the same thing to other. Pull yourself together and maybe you could stop other people from experiencing the same fate you have. "
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He was right. I knew it too. Crying won't bring them back. I knew that. I could be the one too stop other children from experiencing the same emotions I have faced. I learned to quickly bottle my emotions. To shut out any thoughts that weren't about killing demons. I became cold and bitter. I became a mirror image of my father.
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For the next two years, I trained hard to master the Water Breathing Technique. Since I wasn't the strongest boy in the world, I trained to get my endurance and stamina up. I worked on my speed and pace, and quickly became know as the fastest Demon Slayer in the Corps. After two years of hard and exhausting training it was time to take part in the Final Selection. There I saw my first taste of bloodshed, as I saw other Demon Slayers getting killed. I displayed no emotions though. My mind wouldn't let me. I felt...hollow.
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I survived the week and emerge victorious.
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I officially became a Demon Slayer.