丨Soar丨 Kimetsu no Yaiba x OC｜

Chapter 35 (rewritten)

"DO NOT MENTION HIS EXISTENCE!" Lower Moon One roared, dragging her long fingernails across her cheeks, it was as if Chizuko had pushed a button she should not have touched, "I HATE HIM! I HATE HIM! I HATE HIM!"

"Don't you know who you are rescuing?" Lower Moon One chuckled darkly, its voice was more hoarse than before, and it was morphing into a bigger, more monstrous form, "You are rescuing the bullies! The predators! The ones who pushed an innocent person over the edge! Have you forgotten that the victims suffer the most?"

"I understand," Chizuko cut in, "I-I know that I might be protecting the very people I hate." She remembered Ayako and Yoko, Noboru and Sato, "There are people who throw themselves into danger because of 'fun', there are people who discriminate just because something is not 'normal', there are people who take advantage of you only in times of trouble and cast you away like rubbish once you have no more usage. But I believe everyone deserves salvation! Just as how you and your brother deserve to be saved too!"

"JUST WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU SPEWING!" Lower Moon One punched Chizuko in the stomach, sending her crashing into the mirrors, "I don't need saving! He has granted me a new life! A life I enjoy!"

Chizuko spat out blood, her breaths were unsteady because of her ribs that were crushed. Still, she shook her head, "N-No, you don't enjoy being like this. You wished to be rescued when you were human, right?"

"SH-SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Lower Moon One threw Chizuko across the room again, "I will not listen to some pathetic human that is going to die soon!"

"B-But the moment you chose to be a demon was the moment you gave up on being saved," Chizuko gulped hard, "I have thought of giving up on life as well. Although the reason of carrying on can be as simple as wanting to see the blue sky of tomorrow, living is as simple as that. We give meaning to our lives, we embrace the obstacles we encounter, we are thankful for the lessons sorrow and anger has taught us, that's what humans are! I believe suffering allows me to grow up, and it teaches me to treasure and protect the happiness I have right now! No matter how short lived or fleeting it is!"

"Y-YOU...!" Lower Moon One hurled attacks against Chizuko, "It is just pretty lies from a dying moron! Who fails to grasp the new opportunity he has granted you!"

"I will defeat you even if it costs my life!" with tremendous effort, Chizuko summoned enough willpower to leap into the air.

She landed on the floor and dodged the attacks flying towards her. Spinning around abruptly, Chizuko turned the hilt of her blade,

"Mist Breathing, Fourth Form, Shifting Flow Slash!"

She is going to see the blue sky of tomorrow with Muichiro.

***
Muichiro's nostrils flared.

The storm of anger, resentment and hate finally broke loose in him.

As if a tiger breaking free of its cage, Muichiro charged forward with unbelievable force,

"Fox Breathing, Fourth Form, Kinko to Ginko, Omnyō!"

***
Obanai stared almost unblinkingly at the cocoon on a tree in his garden.

He has been staring at it like an idiot for an entire night.

The rays of dawn from the horizon illuminated everything with its golden glow, Obanai's eyes widened as wings broke out from the cocoon.

Shimmering under the sun was a purple and blue butterfly.

It reminds him of Suzuki's sparkly eyes.

His gaze followed the butterfly skywards.

"CAW! Suzuki Chizuko and Muichiro Tokito has defeated Lower Moon One! CAW CAW!" a kasugai crow flew pass, repeating the statement over and over again.

Obanai couldn't stop the unexpected tears flowing down his cheeks.

***
"CAW! Master! Wake up! WAKE UP!"

Muichiro's eyes fluttered open.

Where is he?

He squinted his eyes, he just defeated a demon, right?

"Mui-kun! You're awake! Thank goodness!" a red haired girl was talking to him with such familiarity, "We won! You are a hashira now! Don't worry, Hachi is on her way to find the kakushi!"

Muichiro studied her face, at loss of words. Her flaming red hair glowed under the gentle morning sun, her eyes were puffy and she was covered in blood, but he was intoxicated nonetheless. He wondered why she had an eyepatch, why she beamed at him so warmly, why she was if not more bloodied than him. He held her wrist, he wanted to know her name,

"Who are you?"