The wind carried the scent of rain as Yoriichi sat beneath the training hall's open canopy. Across from him were three of his closest comrades—the newly formed Demon Slayer Corps' first Flame, Water, and Wind users.
Their swords rested beside them, and the silence between them was peaceful—not from awkwardness, but understanding. Yoriichi spoke first, his voice gentle like still water.
"We've come far. But I wish to know the roots of those who now fight beside me."
Enjuro Rengoku – Flame Breathing
The eldest among them, Enjuro Rengoku, with his wild orange hair and blazing eyes, nodded proudly.
"I was a soldier once. Fought in the wars for lords who saw us as disposable. One day, demons razed my village—my younger brother and mother gone in one night."
He looked down at the flame-patterned hilt of his sword.
"When I met you, Yoriichi, I saw purpose in fire—not for destruction, but for protection. So I shaped it into Flame Breathing."
Yoriichi bowed slightly. "Your flame will never flicker out, Enjuro."
Takeshi Hayate – Wind Breathing
Takeshi smirked, arms folded behind his head, hair messily caught by the breeze.
"I grew up on the cliffs near the sea. Lost both parents to a demon pretending to be a fisherman. The winds that carried my screams were the only thing left after that."
His smile faded for a moment.
"So I decided to become the storm. Not for revenge… but because demons need to know they can't fly free anymore."
Yoriichi nodded. "Your wind is loud—but it sings for justice."
Yusuke Mizuhara – Water Breathing
Finally, the quietest of the three—Yusuke Mizuhara—spoke with a calm, flowing cadence.
"My family guarded rivers and waterways for generations. When a demon poisoned our stream and killed my sister, I dove in after her… but only found her too late."
He paused, gazing at the reflective surface of a nearby water basin.
"Water is life. It adapts, flows, and when needed… it cuts deep. That's what I turned my grief into."
Yoriichi looked at each of them. Though their pasts were marred by pain, their hearts carried resolve.
"Then we all carry loss," he said. "But in our breaths, our blades, we carry hope too."
They shared a moment of silence, broken only by the soft rustling of trees.
Their paths were different, but on the battlefield, they would be one.