Heart Of Fire; Veins Of Ice | Kimetsu No Yaiba Fanfic (Kyojurou's POV)

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The demon slayer, a hashira, stood before her, dressed in an orange kimono and black pants, his blade drawn and steaming with the demon's blood. Every inch of her body told her that he was strong. Stronger than any other demon slayer she had encountered, and he held a similarly intimidating and pressurising aura about him as Kokushibou had, which was enough to stop her in her tracks. His eyes were ringed gold and orange, as from his neck onwards, was a spiral of blood red, deep orange flames which marked his skin, a sign that wanted her of the threat she was facing.

"Get away from her, demon, or I will use my blade and remove your head from your shoulders." The man spoke, in a voice oddly cheerful, yet his words and tone hid a layer of confidence and power. With bright yellow hair ending in red tips, his blade was burning, the colour of fire, a newly forged blade. The girl beside her paused, stopping as she met the situation before her.

She could use the girl as a hostage. That would increase her chances of survival, since the Hashira would be more inclined to save a civilian rather than have one killed at his own hand. But that would only anger him more. She raised a hand out, blocking the girl from his blade, as she kept her gaze focused on the man and spoke.

"Child, leave now. Leave and remember that demons dwell in the night, and die exposed to sunlight and are poisoned by wisteria poison. Grow strong so you will never feel fear again. Now leave!" The girl listened intently, nodding as she bolted, and she herself drew her own blade. This was the best course of action. Hopefully this could invoke some empathy from this demon slayer, since he clearly recognised her as a demon, and a demon sparing a human was non existent. If she had to buy into his empathy, play into his sympathy in order to get out of here alive, she would.

She had come so far, she was not giving up now. Never. She tightened her grip on her blade, as the air around them settled into a calm, blanketing chill which settled over the demon slayer's shoulders. As the demon corpse beneath his feet disintegrated into ashes, he pointed his fiery red nichirin blade at her. Even in this stance, she could sense how his muscles were tensed, poised, yet relaxed. He knew how to fight, and had countless years of experience doing so.

"Why did you save that girl? You could have let her be eaten by the demon." The hashira speaks, his question puzzling her. Of all questions he asked, perhaps this was one she did not expect. Had he been watching the whole time? She only raised her guard higher. How had she not been able to sense his presence? This was what Kokushibo meant. She was still so far from him, where he stood, his strength, skill and experience, but she would learn and grow, as all living things would in the course of their life. And she had lifetimes to spare. 

She remains silent, as she gauges how the temperature in the air was steadily dropping, yet the man before her remains unfazed. His gaze is bright, and sharp, and while his face holds a smile, it is one put up to disarm their opponent, to distract and surprise. He has an aura of molten lava, and the cold does not dampen him in the slightest. He would aim for her neck, her leg or her sword arm. She could not use the nichirin blade, not if she wanted to reveal that she had slaughtered his fellow members. It was good that she brought a spare blade since her meeting with their Lord and Kokushibo, taking note that they were uncomfortable in the presence of a weapon forged to kill them. Her words had to be spoken carefully.

"Does it matter? What's done is done." She spoke, as the river slowed beneath their feet, and the temperature only dropped further, as small crystal seeds of ice began forming within the sluggish river. Frost formed on the moisture hidden within the wooden railings, soaked by the splash of the river beneath it. The man frowned, a gentle frown, as if having his curiosity denied.

"I've never met a demon who killed another to save a human. You did not look like you were going to eat her either. You're different," The man mentioned, as he lowered his blade. She remained on the defensive, since attacking this man would warrant her own death. Even as snow started to lightly fall around them, he looked around the sky and down to the ground, holding a hand out to catch the white snowflakes, which melted beneath his touch. He smiled softly, as if entertained and being pleasantly surprised by her abilities. Could he tell it was her blood demon art? At that rate it was more or less exposed, but she took the chance to coat her blade with poisonous frost, which would seep into his blood and cripple him from within.