OC x Rengoku Kyojuro [REMAKE]- "Thankful for you "

Chapter 4.

TW: Attempted Suicide

I was tired of this life. After that night I've never seen Kyojuro anymore. Rumor has it that he was present at an attack in Tokyo. I guessed that he was fighting to become a Hashira. But as years went by, I was finally 18. As sad as this sounds, I still haven't been to the village near the forest I lived in. I still couldn't have my freedom. I was still being thrown around by my mother.
"Train harder! Do you realize how weak you are? If you really wanted to destroy the Demon Slayers you'd actually show it! Weak! Weak! WEAK!"

She'd throw books or wooden swords at me in hope of understanding. Ever since Tsumiki died her state has been going downhill and my father divorced her. The struggle was so real it hurt. Ever since that night, everything went downhill. I hate myself for missing Kyojuro. He's a filthy Demon Slayer. I feel so horrible. I want my freedom. I don't want this lifestyle anymore. One day, I finally had the courage and guts to talk to my mother about this.

"Mother."
I say as I kneel down in front of her. I still had the ribbon from Kyojuro. It brought me luck, so maybe I'd be lucky today.
"Chō. What is it?"
She opens her eyes and looks at me.
"I know this might come off as a shock. But I'd like to leave."
"Leave?"
She laughs.
"Darling, you know you can't do that. You're not strong enough."
"But, mother. I AM capable! I beg you."
I bow down.
"You're speaking a bunch of nonsense. Cease this."
She tells me before turning around and closing her eyes again. A long silence continued. I was angered. My blood was boiling. I've had enough.
"I'm leaving. I can't do this anymore."
"Excuse me?"
"I said, I am leaving. I'll be independent of now on. I'm 18. I can handle it. And I'll prove it to you."
"So you're going to leave just like your father?"
She chuckles.
"No. I want my freedom. And I am sick of you and your constant torture!"
I stand up.
"Then leave. Pack your bags. I do not want you here with that attitude."

She lays down in her bed and I go to my room, packing my serums, recipes, ingredients, knives, sword, clothing, and some money. I walk up to the front of the house and look back at my mother.
"Goodbye."
"Don't come back unless you're dying."
Her cold demeanor hit me instantly. How cruel. At that time I didn't know what was about to come. In the following months, I've realized the money I got for myself wasn't enough to sustain me. I had to make some money somehow. I quickly realized my magical serums could sell for a decent amount of cash. It was sad wasting the serums I made for myself in case of anything, but I had to survive somehow.

Of course, I started making more and more batches of serum to sell around the villages and towns I traveled around. I'd meet countless of warriors and even Demon Slayers who were interested in my services and what I had to offer. I was finally known and acknowledged by people. I wouldn't dare to give my name but people knew me as "scar face girl". Demons soon found out about my scheme and my magic serums that could instantly heal someone, as a consequence I got hunted down by a few. But they were weak. Even after encountering so many humans, I still felt alone, like something was missing. Someone like Tsumiki. Not a sister, but a friend. After all, I was alone.

I traveled for a solid year and I still hadn't befriended someone. Was I capable of living like this? I have so many questions and no answers. I have nobody. The fresh feeling of walking through a forest and the touch of the cold snow on your skin reminded me of my childhood and the moments when I played with my sister.
"Tag. You're it."
I poke a nearby tree. I weakly smile and shed some tears. Oh how the years went by. To think it was all the fault of those Demon Slayers. What an awful life. What a pathetic woman. With a scar like that no one is going to like you. I reach for my sword and pull it out of its sheath. I point it towards my neck and take a deep breath. What's the point? I cry out.

"Oh, Tsumiki. Please welcome me in your arms."
I slightly graze my neck as I staff pushing onto it. My hand got grabbed violently and I got disarmed by an anonymous figure.
"Hey!"
The person shouts loudly as he stops me from cutting my throat open. My eyes widen as I turn to look at the culprit. It was a young boy dressed in a green and black checkered haori and the Demon Slayer uniform. I back away and grab my small sharp knife.
"Stay away! Filthy Demon Slayer!"
I wave the knife around. The boy backs away, until he tries to disarm me. I swiftly grab his hand, reaching out for me, and punch him in the back with my free hand. He falls to the ground as I hold him down. A wooden box was stopping me from fully getting a grip of him.
"Agh!"
"Be quiet! What do you want from me!"
"Miss, keep your calm! I-I just wanted to help!"
"I wouldn't accept the help of a mere Demon Slayer!"
"Tanjiro!"

I hear a whiney tone in the distance. I turn to look at the other boy coming with a boar-headed weirdo next to him. I panic and pick the checkered haori boy up by his hair and put my sharp knife up to his throat.
"Tanj—Tanjiro!"
The yellow-haired boy runs up to us and I furrow my eyebrows.
"Stay away or the boy gets it!"
"Hey lady! Get off Tamaboko Ganjiro!"
The boar's head shouts as he reaches for his two swords.
"Inosuke calm down! She's going to hurt Tanjiro if you don't keep your composure!"
"You all are Demon Slayers. You are not to be trusted."
"Wait. Please. Let's talk this out! Neither of us means any harm! We can negotiate!"
The checkered haori boy speaks up shaking. I sigh and let him go.
"You better be a man of your word. Now speak up!"
I say as I point my knife at them.
"I'm Kamado Tanjiro and these are my friends! Zenitsu and Inosuke! They don't mean any harm! You were about to cut your neck!"
"Alright, Tanjiro. Why'd you stop me then? I'm a complete stranger."
"Exactly, she's a stranger!"
The boar head speaks up in a frustrated tone.
"Even if you are a mere stranger to me, I wouldn't let someone die like this. I want to help! I can sense that you're in distress!"

I lower my knife. Maybe this was my chance to get someone to talk to me. I look down and put my knife back in my pocket.
"Well aren't you a handful."
I look back up at the three of them.
"I was trying to kill myself. I'm not into venting to strangers but let's say I'm all alone right now."
"Didn't you say something about Demon Slayers? You look like a skilled swordswoman, how come you aren't in the corporation?"
"It's a long story. You guys are children. You really wouldn't be of any harm, but your corrupt corporation harmed and kicked out my mother and even killed my sister."
"Huh..killed your sister?"
"It sounds far-fetched. But it's what I've been told by my mother."
"Trust me! The corporation wouldn't lay a hand on a human! They swore to protect them!"
"Nonsense!"
I snap at the boy.
"Hey, listen."
He approaches me and puts his hands on my shoulders.
"I didn't hurt you, did I? The Demon Slayers are amazing people. They wouldn't hurt your family."
"Eh?!"
"I'm afraid you've been lied to. I can fix that!"
He smiles brightly. His whole demeanor was so much different from what my mother described. He was an angel. I tear up and push him away.
"Leave."
I softly spoke up, shaking. I go reach for my sword and take my leave.
"H-Hey! Wait! Please promise me you won't try to slash your neck again!"

He shouts after me waving his hands around. That kid. That kid is different. Him and his friends. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke. These kids are out of their minds. I run through the forest until I reach the nearby village. Was I going to try to kill myself again? Ridiculous. A memory flashes before my eyes.
"May we meet again."
That's right. Kyojuro is also a Demon Slayer and he's been one of the sweetest I've met so far. These boys don't seem any different than him. So my mother was wrong? God this is so difficult. What am I even supposed to think!? This is so stupid! I punch the nearest tree and end up with bruised knuckles. Tough luck.

I promised I'd see Kyojuro again. I miss him, to be fair. But again, he's a Demon Slayer. It feels wrong. I need to find out the truth once and for all. My mind is playing games with me and I don't like it. What should my next move be? Try to find Kyojuro? Go back to my mother? Find my father? No, he's long gone and I left my mother behind. These boys I met sounded genuine. I should've stuck with them. First things first, I need to recollect myself. I need to make money and buy a train ticket.

I'm going to find him.