A New Journey ~ OC x KILLUA (Book 1/3) {Discontinued}

Basketball demon * Chapter 32 *

I pushed the train upwards, my body feeling like jelly, but I managed to push the train off of me just enough to wiggle myself out. "S-Sakura!" Stuttered a voice as I felt myself being dragged out. My vision still blurry, I see the blurred colours that mainly consisted of black and green. Letting go of the train now, it hit the ground with a crash. All the bones in my body cracked, every breath I took hurt. I felt weak. Was this how I was gonna die? No. I wont let that happen. "Sakura! Are you alright?" Asked a booming voice. As my vision started regaining itself, I saw Rengoku standing above me. I stared down at the sword on my side that was now in half as I frowned. "Don't worry about your sword! It'll be fixed soon. Just rest now." He stated, face serious. I slightly nodded, though ended up wincing in pain. "E-eh? Sakura! Don't move yourself! Don't push yourself either. You need to rest!" Exclaimed Tanjiro. I then felt a presence growing closer, and closer.

My eyes widen as dust blew around. 'Shit... Is that Akaza...? GOD DAMNIT!' I mentally cursed myself. I saw Rengoku get up and get into a protective stance. I then felt Akaza getting closer and closer to Tanjiro at rapid speed. I got up, ignoring the pain flowing through my body and activated my Kagune, cutting his arm in half. "Get awa-" I got cut off as I spat out blood. Akaza jumped back a bit and squatted, fixing his arm. "That's a fine thing you got there m'lady. Are you perhaps a demon? But no, you would've healed by now! And you don't seem like one. What are you?" He asked. I felt my knees give in as Rengoku stood infront of me. Akaza then licked his blood off his wrist. "I can't understand why you'd go after Tanjiro first. He isn't wounded." Stated Rengoku boldly.

"Well, I respect women first of all, and also he'd get in the way of the chitchat... of you an me." Stated Akaza. 'Respect women juice...'  "I'm now just meeting you for the first time and I already dislike you." Stated Rengoku. "Same her-" I got cut off AGAIN as I spat out a larger portion of blood. "Sakura!" Exclaimed Tanjiro in worry. Akaza glanced towards me, then back to Rengoku, completely ignoring Tanjiro. "Is that right? Well, I loathe weak humans too. The sight of a weakling makes me feel disgusted and makes my skin crawl." He stated, smiling. "Seems like our senses of value are completely different." Stated Rengoku as I nodded as well, agreeing with Rengoku. Tanjiro held onto me and helped re-assure that I'd be fine. Hopefully. That is, unless I die from blood loss first.

"Well then, I have a proposal for you and that girl. Why don't you become demons like me?" Asked Akaza. "I will not." Stated Rengoku. Akaza turned to me, smiling, as if waiting for me respond. As if I were in any state to right now anyway. "I've already been viewed as a demon. I simply do not need to be one..." I stated, holding onto Tanjiro for support. "Oh really? But I can already tell your strength at a glance. You are a Hashira. And you... Must be a Hunter! A highly skilled one in fact." Stated Akaza, squinting his eyes at me and Rengoku.

"I am the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku. She is a 2 Star Hunter, Zodiac in training, Sakura Kurta." Stated Rengoku. "I'm Akaza." Stated Akaza, smiling. "Ne, Kyojuro, why not become a demon and be in the realm of the highest? You simply can't right now since you're... A mere human. Sakura though, is close to being in the realm of the highest. But she just needs that extra push, hm?" Akaza said. "That's merely because you'll grow old and die." Stated Akaza as he lifted his right arm, his palm facing upwards, as if he was going to help somebody up off the ground. "Become a demon, Kyojuro, Sakura. Do that, and you both could go on for a hundred, or two hundred years. You can become stronger!" Exclaimed Akaza.

"Both growing old and dying are apart of being an ephemeral creature like a human. The way we grow old and die is what makes human life so unbearably precious and noble. Strength isn't a word used to describe just the body. Therefore, this boy is not weak!" Exclaimed Rengoku. Akaza frowned. "Don't insult him. I'll repeat it as many times as it takes. We have different senses of value compared to you. No matter the reason, she and I will not become demons!" Exclaimed Rengoku as the tension in the air grew.

I turned to Tanjiro, who looked at me. We both saw each others fear in our eyes. I then faced back forward, and steadily got up. "I see then... Technique Development... Destructive Death... Compass Needle!" Exclaimed Akaza, a snowflake forming underneath him as his hair flew around. I steadily made my way next to Rengoku as he readied his stance. "If you refuse to become a demon, I'll kill you Kyojuro. For Sakura, however, I'll just forcibly make her a demon." Stated Akaza as he ran towards us. Rengoku and Akaza made the first moves as I was dragged back down by Tanjiro. As I made contact with the ground, I winced in pain. "Shit!" I exclaimed in pain. "...Sorry Sakura. You need to rest... Don't push yourself..." Tanjiro said as my eyes widen in fear. "But I have to protect him...!" I exclaimed. Tanjiro stared at me for a second before responding. "He's the Flame Hashira. He'll be fine Sakura..." He muttered before turning back to the fight infront of us.

"There were never any Flames among all the Hashira I've killed until now. And no one ever took me up on my offer, either." Stated Akaza as Rengoku slashed his sword against his wrist, only for it to be stopped mid-way. "Why do you think that is?" Akaza asked Rengoku. As fast as Rengoku sliced the rest of Akaza's arm off, it regenerated just as fast, if not, 2x faster than it was cut off. "Heh... Die Kyojuro, while you're still young and strong." Said Akaza as he blocked attack after attack. "Destructive Death... Air Type!" Yelled Akaza, sending attacks towards Rengoku as he got hit. 'Shit... If I don't do anything, Rengoku will die...' I thought, tearing up. 'How can I expect to protect anybody if a train is all that stops me...? FUCK... If I can't protect Rengoku... Then who can I expect to protect in the end?' I thought to myself.

I then got up, pushing Tanjiro away, wobbling as I stood, trying to help Rengoku in any way. "Stop right there! You have to rest Sakura! Tanjiro, stop her from moving from her spot, that's an order!" Rengoku exclaimed. "Don't bother with that weakling Kyojuro! And let Sakura be! If she wants to fight, let her!" Exclaimed Akaza. My face instantly dropped as Tanjiro held onto me. Inosuke running towards us and stopped beside us. 'Wait, where'd he come from...?' I asked in thought. I then turned to Tanjiro who held a sad face. "Sorry Sakura, I have to do this!" Tanjiro exclaimed. And then, he headbutted me. I felt my vision darken as tears formed in my eyes. "sHiT!" I exclaimed before finally blacking out. 'Damn you Tanjiro...'

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Well god damn. Welp, see ya'll in the next chapter! I'll try to publish it as soon as I can! Hope you're having a good day so far!

~Word count; 1272~