丨Soar丨 Kimetsu no Yaiba x OC｜

Chapter 38

"That makes sense!!" Zenitsu was in tears, "But I'm still getting off!!!!"

Chizuko's brows knitted, she understood Zenitsu's panic. In fact, she was having a very very bad feeling once she stepped abroad. Her left eyelid didn't stop twitching, and her skin itched as if there was something crawling under it. Chizuko gulped, there was only one possibility.

Only being around demons of the twelve kizuki would cause such discomfort.

"Allow me," Chizuko jumped as a ghastly, weak voice sounded, "to inspect your tickets."

"The instructor is going to check our tickets!" Kyojuro helped Tanjiro and Chizuko to hand over their tickets.

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.

Chizuko's breath became hitched, her heart raced and immense pain came from the back of her head, as if warning her of potential danger. She glanced around, she couldn't pinpoint an exact spot.

Where could it be?

"Enjoy your trip," the pale inspector bowed stiffly.

Kyojuro rose to his feet all of a sudden, "Look out! Get back! Do not mind the sword! There's an urgent matter!"

A giant demon with horns and mouths poking out of his body came into sight. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke and Chizuko gasped along with the frightened passengers.

"The blood demon art was hiding such a huge thing and it was hard to sense it!" Kyojuro unsheathed his sword, "However, if you bare your fangs at innocent people, my bright red flame blade will burn you to the bone!"

"Flame breathing, First Form, Unknowing Fife!"

The demons head rolled off onto the floor in blazing flames.

"Wow!" Tanjiro was in absolute awe, his eyes lit up, "Rengoku-san! That was awesome swordsmanship! Please make me your apprentice!!"

"Me too!" "And me!" Zenitsu and Inosuke cheered as well, jumping up and down like children.

"Sure!" Kyojuro smiled passionately and invitingly, "I will take care of you all!"

"Our big brother Rengoku!!" the trio chanted around Kyojuro.

"Big brother Ren-" before she could finish her sentence, Chizuko's legs buckled and she fell limp to the floor.

"Young Suzuki!"

"Chizuko-san!"

"Chizuko-chan!"

The four were alarmed immediately.

"Chusaro!!!" Inosuke who was standing closest to Chizuko ended up bending on one knee, catching her by the shoulders.

"Rengoku-san! Wh-What happened!!?" Tanjiro moved Nezuko's box, making space for Inosuke to put Chizuko down on the bench, "Is there anything we can help?"

Kyojuro checked Chizuko's pulse, "We didn't know when it started, but we only found out a few months ago..."

"What did you do," Obanai slammed open the door of the butterfly mansion, his death glare landing on Sanemi immediately. Sanemi stood, his blood was boiling because of Obanai's accusation, "Don't fucking blame everything on me! Iguro! Everything was going fine and then the next second she fainted all of a sudden! I didn't do anything!" "Oh really-"

"Iguro! Shinazugawa! Hold on for a moment first!" Kyojuro had to stand between the two. He and Obanai were on a mission until a crow came with bad news.

Chizuko had fainted while going on a mission with Sanemi.

"Ara ara!" Shinobu entered the room, "Iguro-san, Shinazugawa-san! Please keep your mouths shut and your arguments for later if you want to hear about Chizuko-chan's situation!"

"Kocho, so you mean that... young Suzuki feels different levels of physical discomfort around different demons? Like the what Marechi blood does to demons?" Kyojuro broke the silence after listening to Shinobu's findings.

Shinobu nodded, "Yes, Rengoku-san. I have asked Chizuko about it. Her discomforts can range from something minor like a twitching eyelid or slight dizziness to something serious like irregular heartbeat or passing out. As for the reason, I am still looking for a reasonable explanation. However, I estimate that it is because of her encounter with Muzan a year ago. Something in her blood may have continued evolving in the process of resisting the effects of Muzan's blood, which is out of our knowledge now."

"The only thing I can say for sure is that Chizuko-chan has to tolerate these symptoms every time she battles," Shinobu added, "It doesn't affect her health, at least for now. I have asked her about it but-"

"Can you cure her?" Obanai cut in.

Shinobu's usual smile vanished as she shook her head.

"Iguro and young Suzuki had a big fight after that," Kyojuro sat down, gesturing Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke to do the same, "He was worried for her health, we all were. She chose to stay, and have proved herself capable these past months! Thus, Kocho suggested her condition is not likely to be permanent! So we believe in her choice!"

The Kamaboko squad remained silent, all were completely taken back.

Tanjiro was about to say something but his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

***
Eh?

Chizuko's eyes snapped open.

What is she doing in bed?

Chizuko tested the floor with her foot. It was really there, made of wood, and freezing cold. Her hand reached to grab something on the bedside table, but it was empty.

Huh?

She blinked, smelling a nostalgic aroma coming from downstairs.

As if caught in a trance, her legs moved on their own.

Tears rolled off her cheeks as a familiar figure came into sight.

"G-Grandma?"