丨Soar丨 Kimetsu no Yaiba x OC｜

Chapter 26

"She cured Ayako with a strange method, a method never seen before," Yoko dried her tears, "She left me some medicine and a small jar of blood, telling me that Ayako would be waking in two to three weeks if the procedure succeeded. However..."

"Where is that woman."

Yoko dropped to the tiles in absolute terror. An unnaturally pale man with plum red orbs sat by her table with Ayako sleeping on his lap. "I am fully aware that you aren't deaf," Muzan examined his sharp, blue nails, "Where is that woman, the woman that healed your daughter."

Yoko shook her head, "I-I don't know! Sh-She left two days ago! She isn't a local and is travelling with a young boy, she-" "Of course I know she isn't a local!" Muzan snapped, how dare that traitor think she could surpass him by creating so called 'better demons'? He was this close to finally ending the woman that almost costed him his downfall.

Fury surged in Muzan's veins, he let her get away again, again and again. Overwhelmed with his anger, Muzan swiped the cheek of Ayako.

"Then... Then I hid Ayako here," tears brimmed in Yoko's eyes, "I-I tried feeding her the blood, but it didn't work! Then... one day some kids came..."

"What are you doing here!?" Yoko screamed at one of the children surrounding the house. "W-We... Katou lost a bet, s-so we asked her to stay in the haunted house for ten minutes," the kid stuttered. Yoko's eyes widened, foreseeing the tragedy that had probably happened, "Leave! Go home!" "Wh-What about Katou?" "I SAID GO AWAY!"

"It was an accident! Ayako didn't mean to eat another person!" waterfalls of tears spilled out of Yoko's eyes, "Katou was the first kid that went missing... and... rumours about this house started circulating... The interior of this house also started changing after that... resembling my former husband's house..."

"Ayako is a good girl! She never tried to devour me! Those traps... the doors... They are all my idea! I taught Ayako to create those traps to catch food for her! So it is all my responsibility!" Yoko wept, "A-And I would scout for stray kids... bring them back to my house... feed them sleeping pills... and bring them here for Ayako... I just can't bear to see Ayako suffering from hunger!"

Sleeping pills? Chizuko stepped backwards instinctively, no wonder... "Yes! Suzuki! I thought you were just another abandoned kid! I put sleeping pills in your dinner!" Yoko stumbled towards Chizuko, gripping her shoulders, "But... But you were like Ayako, you were so much like Ayako when you went to the market with me, when you ate the squid, when you slept on her bed! So kill me! Kill me instead! I am a sinner!"

"Y-Yoko-san! P-Please calm down first!" Chizuko stammered. What to do what to do? She couldn't spare Ayako, it would be against the rules and a potential danger. She couldn't slice Ayako's neck off, Yoko was already in anguish.

"G-Give Kimura back to us!" a girl behind Chizuko stepped up, her hands trembling, "Give my brother back to us a-and we promise we won't say a thing!"

The girl's request struck a nerve, Yoko shoved Chizuko away, "Wh-What are you talking about!" Another kid spoke up, "A-About all the terrible things you've done!" Chizuko threw herself between them, "Yoko-san! Th-They are just trying to rescue their friend! Please control yourself!" "Control myself!?" Yoko burried her face in her hands, she doesn't remember what is normal anymore.

"Brother!" the girl's shout dragged Chizuko out from her thoughts.

Chizuko and Ayako reached the fainted boy at the same time with outstretched arms. With no other choice, Chizuko sliced at Ayako's hands to protect the boy.

"NO!" Yoko ran in front of Ayako with surprising speed. Chizuko jolted, turning her blade just on time before it sunk into Yoko's chest.

"Don't kill my child! Please! I'm begging you!" Yoko restrained Ayako while kneeling on the floor. Chizuko was in conflict again. Ayako had eaten several people, and would need to consume more humans to survive. What if she couldn't recognise Yoko one day? What if she were hungry and launched her hunger on the small community? It was one life for tens or even hundreds of lives. And Yoko, although she didn't end lives with her own hands, what she had done was still unjustifiable.

But her limbs were trembling, she couldn't bring herself to raise her sword. Don't hesitate! Don't you remember what Iguro-sama has taught you?

Chizuko never questioned why demons were formed. Though she knew some were unlucky people that appeared in the wrong place at the wrong time, many others were wicked and vile with their own malicious intentions. Demons had stolen happiness from countless families, including herself, and replaced it with death. They didn't deserve any pity.

Nevertheless, she felt sorry for Yoko and Ayako. On one hand, Ayako was the victim. She never asked to be transformed, it was Yoko's wish. On the other hand, it was true that Yoko's motives and actions were twisted, but ultimately she was driven by distorted love. They were the products of a tragedy as well.

Chizuko's pulse quickened and her palms became sweaty, the faces of the demons she eliminated flashed before her eyes. Did they all have unspoken hardships? Had she been heartless? Ignorant?

Rays of sunlight shone from the window, is it dawn already? Yoko hid Ayako in a big blanket, but seeing Ayako's longing gaze recalled a scene from long ago.

"Mum? I wish I can always watch the sunrise with you," Ayako beamed, bathed in the golden light. Yoko patted her head, "Silly girl, you will recover soon and we can watch the sunrise together every day." Ayako turned to face the sun and was silent for a while, "Mum? Can you promise me something?"

"Mum, please don't blame yourself when I'm gone. Just look at the sunrise and remember me."

She was tired. And she knew that Ayako was tired as well.

Maybe it is time.

"Ayako, it is time to watch the sunrise," Yoko removed the cloth and held Ayako's hand, who obeyed without fighting.

"Yoko-san?" Chizuko chased after the two, "Yoko-san? Yoko-san!"

Watching Ayako's disintegrating body, Yoko pulled a veil of green liquid out of her pocket.

"YOKO-SAN!"

***
"CAW! CAW! Go to Naboribetsu next!" Hachi landed beside Chizuko.

Placing the forget-me-nots on the two gravestones, Chizuko nodded, "Thanks, Hachi."

"Let's go."