Outside His Flames - Kimetsu No Yaiba

3. Kyojuro

       It was as if Tsukiko had been doused in cold water.

Akaza and Rengoku were in deadlock.

Rengoku's blade was partly buried in the demon's neck. Akaza stood unable to free his arm from the torso of the demon slayer. Both of them stood screaming.

"Inosuke move!" Tanjiro's voice yelled over the commotion, "move for Rengoku!"

The boar did move, Inosuke sliced through both of Akaza's arms. Aiding Rengoku but also freeing the demon.

The light of dawn began to break and Akaza immediately turned to run from sun. Tanjiro began shouting at him to stop running. Tsukiko's eyes followed Azaka, Tanjiro's sword buried in the demon like her's had been.

"The light of the moon will one day cease to welcome your master!" Tsukiko screamed at Akaza as he ran through the trees. "The future holds nothing but the darkness of the abyss for you Akaza!"

She stared after Akaza even when she couldn't see him. It was as if turning around would stop the events unfolding around her from happening. As if not looking would heal Rengoku's wound and they would have lunch together just like they had many times before.

Yet her eyes did not lie to her, she knew that the wound would not be treatable.

'It's my fault,' Tsukiko thought, 'I did not do enough to prevent this. My warning only brought about death in a different way.'

"Tsukiko," Rengoku's voice tore her away from her trance.

Waisting no time, Tsukiko moved as quick as she could to her friend's side. She dropped to her knees beside him.

"Don't cry Tsukiko," Rengoku smiled at her with one eye forced shut. Even when facing death he smiled at her. It was only then that she realized that she was crying.

"Kyojuro please," Tsukiko dropped all formalities, "you said we would eat lunch together tomorrow. Please." Her voice came out weak and broken.

"It will be alright," the voice of the hashira was comforting, "I knew what would come out of this fight. I didn't let you tell me yourself."

Shaking her head, Tsukiko whimpered, "this is all my fault. I did not try hard enough for you. I did not do enough!"

"Your ability is a gift," Rengoku told her, "do not be afraid of it. You have given me more time and happiness at knowing my brother will have a long life."

Tsukiko took Rengoku's hand in her's. A gentle sob came from her lips at how weakly her grip was returned.

"He's going to marry a beautiful woman and have a handsome son," Tsukiko spoke gently with a smile. Her tearful eyes glistened with the light of the rising sun. Despite the blood on her face, she still looked beautiful.

At first, Tanjiro thought Tsukiko was lying to the hashira to comfort him but he could smell that she was telling the truth. She was telling Rengoku of a vision to comfort his last moments.

"His life is going to be peaceful and full of wonder," Tsukiko continued.

Rengoku smiled down at her. Although he was in pain and he felt his life fading, he was at ease. Slowly, his eyes moved past Tsukiko to the air behind her.

"Mother?" The hashira called out. Rengoku's smile widened before his body relaxed.

"No!" Tsukiko screamed out when the hand she was holding no longer returned its grip. "Kyojuro! Please!"

Both of her small hands held onto Rengoku's that did not hold her's back. Sobs raked out from Tsukiko's chest. To her, she had lost a brother.

"Oyakata tried to change fate but I stood in the way," Tsukiko bit out as she began to cough. Blood ran down her neck like the tears on her face.

Tsukiko had to let go of Rengoku. Her hands gripped the nightgown at the pain in her chest. Blood dripped from the hand at her mouth as she continued to both wheeze and cough.

"Over here!" Tanjiro's voice called out.

The sound of footsteps alerted Tsukiko that the Kakushi had come. The hands that supported her shoulders as she slumped to the side made Tsukiko aware of Inosuke's presence.

"Totoro!" The boar yelled out in alarm at the state of the girl.

Not much followed for Tsukiko as she faded away into darkness.