丨Soar丨 Kimetsu no Yaiba x OC｜

Chapter 39

Chizuko drew in a sharp breath, what is the meaning of this? She didn't know whether to wipe the liquid and pretend nothing had happened, or to alert everyone about what she saw.

Her vision went black and white as her own voice sounded.

"Chizuko! This is a dream! You have to wake up! You and your friends are in danger!"

E-Ehh!!?

Chizuko's vision went back to normal before she could ask who the voice belonged to.

"Chizuko-chan?" a tap came from her shoulder, "Are you okay?"

"H-Hina-chan!" Chizuko stammered, "I-I'm fine! Wh-What's the matter?"

Grinning widely, Hina threw her arm around Chizuko's shoulder, "Nothing much~ Just wanted to tell you that I'm happy we can have dinner together!"

"Y-Yea, me too," Chizuko blinked away tears, why is she crying so much?

Knock Knock!

"Sorry, Hina-chan," Chizuko went to get the door, "I'll be back in a bit!"

Opening the door, Chizuko was embraced by gentle arms. She gasped, uncontrollably leaning into his touch. Time seemed to have stopped, Chizuko buried her face in his shoulder, is it really him? It was as if she had finally found light after an endless walk in a deep dark cave, tears were overflowing from her eyes again.

I'm sorry! I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most! I-

"Chizuko," Muichiro smiled, "Let's fold paper airplanes and foxes after we eat."

If this were really a dream, she didn't want to wake up at all.

***
"Should we tie up their arms?" a girl asked.

"Yes," another girl nodded, "Don't forget to be careful. And one more thing," she turned to the girl tying a rope around Chizuko's wrist, "Immediately report to him once you destroy her spiritual core, he wants to hand her over to someone important. You mustn't fail."

Binding the rope to her own wrist, the girl sitting beside Chizuko nodded.

"One... Two.... Three... Four..." the girl counted while adjusting her breathing, falling asleep along with her allies.

***
Brrrrrr. The girl rubbed her arms while trudging in thick snow.

Why does the redhead have to dream of a winter night?

She glanced at the house not so far away, she was quite clear that she wouldn't be discovered by the main self. After all, the main character of this fabricated world shouldn't be able to leave.

With great difficulty, the girl finally reached the  lake at the edge.

Right. This is it. She fished out the strange knife from her pocket.

Raising it up high, she slashed vertically, causing the scenery to be torn down like a canvas.

She took a deep breath and peered inside.

***
Nezuko was thrown out of her box as the train took a turn.

She looked around, wondering why everyone was sleeping.

She stared at Kyojuro confusedly, what was he doing?

"Have to wake... This is a dream... I have to wake up..." Tanjiro murmured repeatedly, "Have to wake..."

Spotting her big brother, Nezuko hummed in delight, yanking him by the sleeve of his checkered haori, trying to get head pets from him.

Unable to wake Tanjiro, Nezuko turned to shake Chizuko by the arm. As she remembered, Chizuko also gave decent head pets.

Receiving no reaction from the both of them, Nezuko headbutted Tanjiro.

Tears fell like raindrops from Nezuko's eyes as blood dribbled from her forehead, she had forgotten that her brother's head was hard as a rock.

She bumped into Tanjiro's head again, setting him on fire unintentionally.

Nezuko then turned to Chizuko and bumped into her shoulder, also setting her on fire by accident.

***
Chizuko gasped and fell backwards, backing away from the mirror.

Wha...!?

She went to the bathroom, but was suddenly on fire.

Strangely, the pink flames didn't char nor scorch her skin. Instead, the blue hakama she was wearing turned into a uniform and a striped haori.

Chizuko touched her eyepatch hesitantly, was this the thing she was looking for when she woke up?

Her reflection banged on the mirror hurriedly all of a sudden, "Wake up! Get out of here! This is a dream! Everything is a lie! We are all in danger! There's a member of the twelve Kizuki on the train! Wake up before it's too late!"

Chizuko gulped back a shriek, but the word train struck a nerve. Train? Train... Train...

Her eyes widened in realisation, she is on a train with Kyojuro, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke and Nezuko!

Leaping onto her feet, Chizuko dashed out of the toilet, racing down the stairs and pass the dining room.

She couldn't help but to stop by the door, looking back at how everyone was happily sitting around the table, smiling and laughing as if none of the tragedies ever happened.

Chizuko reached for the door knob, but hesitation crept into her heart. If she were to leave, everything here would for sure perish. She wouldn't ever see her grandma, Hina, Haruto and Ichika again. Even if this were an illusion, even if reality was what she saw in the spilled tea, this was what she wanted, happiness for everyone she knew.

Her fingers trembled, she knew she shouldn't look back, she knew she had a mission to complete, she knew she had her own reality, she knew she wouldn't be able to walk away if she stayed.

But her legs were glued to the spot, her fingers lacked the courage to push open the door.

"Chizuko?" Muichiro grabbed Chizuko's hand, "What are you wearing? Are you going somewhere?"

***
Snowflakes danced in the air, landing soundlessly on the blanket of snow with the grace of ballerinas.

The snow in the realm was pure, immaculate, untainted, never stepped on. As if it were the first snow of winter that was frozen in time.

Much like a fallen star, a glowing orb floated in the middle, radiating warmth and harmony.

This must be her unconscious realm and spiritual core.

The girl stood at the entrance, it felt wrong to enter, everything was so peaceful that it was almost holy, she didn't want to destroy it with footprints.

Go and destroy her spiritual core! Why are you hesitating? The girl's palms became sweaty, you won't be able to keep dreaming if you can't fulfil your side of the deal!

Why are you suddenly scared of hurting a girl you used to bully?

She nearly let out a frightened scream as a fox appeared out of nowhere and snatched the knife Enmu had given her with its mouth.

"H-Hey! Give it back!" she had no choice but to run after it.