丨Soar丨 Kimetsu no Yaiba x OC｜

Chapter 40

A series of high-pitched barks she thought she'd never hear again came from somewhere in the forest.

"K-Kinoko!? Nori!? Momo!?" Chizuko's mouth hung agape upon seeing the three red foxes, they are the foxes she used to take care of when she was a child.

The trio of foxes waggled their tails upon spotting her, nuzzling Chizuko's legs and enjoying her pets. "I thought I'd never see you again after that day," Chizuko ruffled their fur, recalling that terrible day when she was chased down by a demon.

Momo dropped a peculiar looking knife into Chizuko's palm, gazing at Chizuko excitedly. Chizuko giggled, "Silly Momo, this isn't a branch! But let's go find one!"

"Stop right th-!" a girl Chizuko never wanted to see again came into sight.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Chizuko greeted,

"Kumiko."

***
The past washed over the two girls like a rising tide.

"You are nothing more than the dirt on the floor!" Kumiko shoved Chizuko roughly, causing her to fall into the muddy puddle, "Mommy said you are the devil's child! Our harvest failed because of you!"

"You are not welcomed to fish here! Get out of my sight!" Kumiko pushed Chizuko a bit too hard. All the kids watched in shock as Chizuko fell through the cracked ice, paralysed in fear. Chizuko struggled to keep her chin above the freezing water, "HELP! I CAN'T SWIM!" But instead of landing Chizuko a helping hand, Kumiko who caused the whole incident turned on her heels as quickly as she could.

"Oi! Suzuki! What do you wash your hair with?" Kumiko taunted, "Do you wash it with blood? Is it why your hair is red?" The kids around Kumiko bursted in snickers. Hefting a bucket full of water, Chizuko lowered her head, trying to hide more of her hair in the towel wrapped around her head. "Oi! Are you deaf or what!" Kumiko yanked Chizuko by the lousily tied hood, making Chizuko trip. "That is for not answering me!" Kumiko dumped the rest of the water onto Chizuko, ignoring her scraped knees.

Kumiko glared at Chizuko, studying her from head to toe. It wasn't the first time she saw Chizuko around in Tokyo, but she refused to believe that it was in fact Chizuko. The scorching flames of shame burned Kumiko's pride, rendering it into ash and cinder that was to be swept away.

"Fox breathing, First Form, Byyako, Fox Fire!"

Blue flames cut through the air, a familiar silhouette landed with almost no sound, the gigantic monster's head fell to the ground.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" the girl turned and knelt, inspecting the sobbing child behind her, "What's your name? Where are your parents?"

Kumiko's mouth went dry, the only thing she could hear was her speeding pulse. She could recognise that red hair and duo coloured eyes anywhere. "Thank you! Thank you so much!!" the parents were on their knees, crying tears of joy, "Rei-chan! Hurry! Thank your saviour!"

"Th-Thank you!" the child, Rei, wailed. Still in shock, she could only repeat the same words, "Thank you! Thank you!"

"I-It's nothing! There's no need to kneel!" Chizuko helped the family up, "I was just doing my job!" she paused, placing a bag of coins in the father's hands, "P-Please take it to have dinner with your family!"

"CAW! CAW CAW! Head southwest! Southwest!" Hachi flapped her wings, urging Chizuko to move. "Hai! Thanks Hachi!" Chizuko dipped her head, "I'll be going now, please stay safe!"

"Wait! Nee-san!" Rei asked, "Nee-san! A-Are you an angel? I-I want to be like you someday!"

"Ah... I-I'm sorry, Rei-chan, I am not an angel," Chizuko walked back to the child, sinking onto one knee in front of Rei, "And it's probably best if you don't become like me when you grow up. What Rei-chan can do now is to promise me not to run off on the streets alone at night, alright?" Chizuko held out her pinky finger. Rei nodded enthusiastically, hooking her pinky finger with Chizuko's, "Pinky promise! Rei will be a good girl!"