丨Soar丨 Kimetsu no Yaiba x OC｜

Chapter 34 (rewritten)

"As what we said earlier," Lower Moon One snapped its fingers, revealing three people behind the screen.

"They are to die if you loose."

Blots of blood were splattered across Muichiro's cheeks.

Move, kill it, end this game before more people are brought in, sweat dribbled off Muichiro's forehead, but his limbs were glued in place. Move, move now. Gritting his teeth, Muichiro couldn't even lift his fingers although he had mustered more than enough strength.

"We shall continue," Lower Moon One licked the remaining blood on his fingers.

***
Chizuko rubbed her temple, trying to ease the growing dizziness in her head.

"He wants you to join him," Lower Moon One stood from her chair, "he had been watching you, you are his newest favourite."

Chizuko knitted her eyebrows, "T-Tell Muzan I would rather die than join him!"

"Ara Ara, don't jump to conclusions so soon," Lower Moon One shook her head, "I don't plan on consuming you. You are the talk of all demons now, you know? He said that whoever is able to capture you alive can have more of his blood."

Wobbling, Chizuko had to hold onto the table for support as Lower Moon One inched closer and closer. "The closer you are to his blood, the more influenced you are," it remarked smugly.

Searing cramps erupted in Chizuko's left eye. Falling on one knee, she nearly screamed in pain while clutching her bleeding eye. What does it mean? Chizuko's fingers trembled while the inhuman desires she desperately tried to bury were excavated like ancient relics, her vision became blurry.

"Ah, you're still fighting it?" Lower Moon One rubbed its chin, "In that case..."

Chizuko thrashed as Lower Moon One yanked her up by the hair and shoved a cup against her mouth. Dread twisted in Chizuko's gut as a sharp metallic taste spread across her tongue, she coughed and choked, preventing the syrupy substance from going down her throat. Spit it out! Spit-

But it is so... so... flavourful.

Chizuko swallowed a bit.

A bolt of panic struck her, idiot! Regret washed over Chizuko like a wave, that was blood.

Chizuko's back arched suddenly and she fell to the floor, her limbs jerked and convulsions seized her body. Tears spilled from Chizuko's eyes, Tamayo and her friend aren't here to save her this time.

"Chizuko-chan!"

Footsteps approached her, Chizuko could see spider lilies around her, but they all vanished in a wisp of smoke as Lower Moon One stepped through.

"Your connections to the people you lost are incredibly deep," Lower Moon One kicked Chizuko's sword away, "but the dead should not meddle with the living!"

"Tell me, what is the point of living in inferiority? Humans are frail creatures writhing in constant pain, why not join him and be rid of the worthless human life?" Lower Moon One crouched down to Chizuko's level, "Look how pitiful you are right now, you are tired right? Instead of struggling your whole life, why not become a demon and live carefree?"

Chizuko crawled for her blade, yet her arms and legs numbed before she could reach it. Groaning, Chizuko gritted her teeth while claws, muscles and veins popped from her left arm, growing into twice its normal size, tearing the sleeve of her uniform. Absolute terror engulfed Chizuko, this didn't happen last time, is she turning into a demon? She grimaced, fight it, fight it, fight it!

Lower Moon One stroked Chizuko's cheek, "I don't understand people like you. Haven't you suffered enough? Fighting for the happiness of others, how idealistic. The reality will always be that there are people you can't save, you are rendering yourself insensible with an impossible dream from people in the past."

"What do you say? Give up struggling, choose to live for yourself, set yourself free from the restraints built by others."

"Y-You may be right," Chizuko's mumble turned into a cry while she swung her nichirin blade with her right hand,

"But no one lives without pain!"

*andon : paper lamb

*kōdō : the art of appreciating Japanese incense, and involves using incense within a structure of codified conduct.

The game Lower Moon One plays is inspired by 'The game of three', where three unique kinds of aloeswood are used in this game. Each wood is cut into three pieces, about the size of a grain of rice, and wrapped in separate packets. This produces a total of nine packets. Each packet has a small hidden label inside which denotes the type of aloeswood it contains. The packets are shuffled and three random packets are chosen to play the game with.

Each guest experiences each wood and determines if the fragrances were identical or different. Each guest scores on a sheet using vertical lines to indicate each wood. Separate lines indicate woods were different. Horizontal lines connecting two or more woods indicates the guest to believe those woods were identical.

*zafu : a round cushion