丨Soar丨 Kimetsu no Yaiba x OC｜

Chapter 19

"The mask," the demon pointed at Haruto, "You are Urokodaki's disciple, I have sworn to consume all his disciples! He had confined me here! I will let him taste torture just as I do!" it started to stomp its feet and scratch itself in despair. Chizuko yelled, "We won't let that happen! We will fight together! Shimizu-san!"

"Butterfly hairpin?" the demon giggled again, "I remember, last time there was a girl with a butterfly hairpin, she tried helping Urokodaki's student. I ripped off their limbs one by one! There was another one screaming and crying, but I didn't get to finish her as the sun was coming out." Chizuko and Aoi could feel red hot rage, Hina and Ichika.

Haruto charged forward, slashing along the way, "Then I'll avenge everyone you killed! You bastard!" Chizuko joined in, "How dare you kill Hina-chan!" Trembling, Aoi retrieved her sword and followed Chizuko.

"Water breathing, second form, Water Wheel!"

"Fox breathing, third form, Genko, Hokuto Shichisei!"

"Flower breathing, fourth form, Crimson Hanagoromo!"

***
Chizuko dodged the branch flying towards her.

She rolled away from the advancing arms, holding her sword that was snapped into half. It's neck was too strong, if it weren't for Haruto and Aoi she would have been greeted by death. What are they going to do? Are they going to battle until sunrise? Glancing at her friends, Chizuko could tell they too were growing fatigued. They couldn't get close enough.

The demon observed the three pesky kids. Urokodaki's disciple is weaker than his previous ones, he can only do five forms over and over, it should be easy to finish him off. That flower breathing girl is also not as brilliant as the ones last time, I should crush her the next. As for that red haired one, I have never seen her breath. She seem only have two or three forms, I'll finish her last. Making up his mind, the demon attacked Haruto full force.

"Shimizu-san!" Chizuko pushed him away, and got punched by a giant fist, crashing limp against a tree trunk. "SUZUKI-SAN!" "CHIZUKO!" Haruto and Aoi shrieked in horror.

Chizuko coughed up blood, immense pain came from her chest area and arm, did she break her bones? "Stand up and fight!" she seemed to hear Sanemi roar. Get up, but she couldn't stand. Tears rolled in her eyes, she couldn't be weak now.

"Aoi-san! Take Suzuki-san and go!" Haruto sprinted forward, "I'll hold this thing off!" "What about you?" Aoi took hold of Chizuko. "No! Shimizu-san!" Chizuko struggled, he is going to die. "Go! Wait for me on the seventh day, alright?" Haruto flashed them a reassuring smile before going into battle, "Water breathing, forth form, Striking Tide!"

"Shimizu-san!" Chizuko cried while being dragged away by Aoi.

***
"Now, please choose your ore," the white haired child gestured to the peculiar rocks behind her.

Chizuko and Aoi glanced around, there was only three of them. Where are all those people with them go? Did none of them make it? Gripping the branch supporting her, Chizuko staggered forward and picked up an ore. Where is Shimizu-san?

"We will issue your uniforms soon, measurements would be taken later," the child clapped her hands, three crows came flying towards them.

"Hachi!" Chizuko hugged Hachi, no wonder she hadn't seen her for days, "I missed you so much. I'm sorry that I don't have food for you now." Hachi didn't mind at all, she was glad Chizuko made it. She had a new owner to serve, and she wouldn't let this kid die like the last one. "Let's wait for Shimizu-san, he is a new friend I made," Chizuko explained to Hachi.

The two girls and crows stood there and waited. Perhaps they knew Haruto wasn't ever going to come, but they didn't dare to loose hope. It was sunset, there was still no sign of him.

***
She's late.

Obanai paced in front of his estate. Where is she? She should be back by now. What if she died? No, she isn't weak like she was at first. What is taking her so long? Is she heavily injured? Should he stop by the butterfly mansion to check?

Kaburamaru poked Obanai, pointing with his tail. "Suzuki!" Obanai ran to the wobbly figure approaching. She is alive.

Obanai reached out, should he hug her? Or should he pat her head? He is never affectionate. His eyes surveyed Chizuko from head to toe, she has broken bones, she needs to go to Kocho now. What could have done such damage to her? The demons on that mountain wasn't supposed to be able to cause injuries like this.

Chizuko buried herself in Obanai's outstretched arms, bursting into sobs, "Iguro-sama, I'm sorry I couldn't save him! I am so weak and he ended up leaving himself behind and I couldn't do anything! I'm so sorry-"

"You're back. I-I'm glad that you are back, welcome home," Obanai blurted out, "He will be glad that you are back safely too." Obanai didn't know who she was talking about, and he would have scolded her for being whiny if it were some other normal day. But for tonight, he didn't have a single complaint to make. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, she's back, she's back, she's back.

"Your arm and ribs are fractured, let's go to Kocho," Obanai guided Chizuko by her unbroken arm, "then we'll come back for dinner. I cooked dinner."

"Thank you, Iguro-sama," Chizuko followed Obanai.

"Wait, Iguro-sama, you cooked dinner?" Chizuko blinked, was she too exhausted that her hearing went wrong?

Obanai nodded, "Yes, so hurry up if you don't want cold rice, Suzuki."

Chizuko beamed, Iguro-sama made her dinner. A part of her sorrows evaporated. Obanai peeked, smiling to himself, that's the face he didn't know he missed.

The two walked to the butterfly mansion in the moonlit night.

***
Chizuko was trying on her uniform.

Mitsuri had sent her a pair of sandals, they were from the cities. The laced up black tabi* flats fitted her feet comfortably. Kyojuro stopped by the other day and gifted her a box of assorted daifuku*, which she happily shared with Muichiro. Uzui brought her some sake*, but was shooed away by Obanai, Kaburamaru and Hachi. Shinobu gave her a portable medical kit, which was perfect for missions. Sanemi patted her head while saying 'good job' when he passed by, too embarrassed to actually get her something.

And Shinobu gave her some matches and oil, which she had no idea what were their uses.

The uniform is nice but...

"Iguro-sama? Do they have longer skirts?" Chizuko scratched her neck, the dress was barely covering her bottom. Obanai almost bit his tongue, who the hell is responsible for uniform? He tied his haori around Chizuko's waist, covering her legs, "We have to go somewhere now."

"Change her dress," Obanai glared daggers and pointed at Maeda at the uniform department. Chizuko had to restrain him from killing the kakushi, "Wait! Iguro-sama! You can't finish him off! He is the only one that makes the uniform! And it's against the rules to hurt a fellow member!"

In the end, Chizuko got a slightly longer skirt and some knee-high socks.

***
It was Chizuko and Obanai's first mission together.

"Suzuki, you copied my haori?" Obanai lifted an eyebrow upon seeing Chizuko. It wasn't exactly the same, but it was similar.

Chizuko shook her head, "Ichika-chan made it for me some time ago, it was her idea."

"Whatever, just don't wear the wrong one," Obanai paused, "and don't swap our hoaris on purpose, Suzuki. I'll be watching you."

That would be a nice prank. "No promises, Iguro-sama," Chizuko smirked.

****
*tabi : split-toe shoes
*daifuku : a Japanese confection consisting of a small round mochi stuffed with sweet filling, most commonly sweetened red bean paste
*sake : a Japanese alcoholic beverage made by fermenting rice (Japanese rice wine)