'I love you, Kyojuro. I have always loved you so please, just don't die.'

'Perhaps we will be together in the next life. I'll wait for you, Raika.'

Eighteen year old Raika Makino kept on running. She kept on running despite the pain and despite the grief. What else could she do? Every time she closed her eyes, what should have been darkness was replaced with the bloody scene she had witnessed only moments ago. The bodies of those she loved, her father and brother, ripped apart.

Raika had no idea how on Earth she had escaped. The red haired monster had slayed her kin with a level of speed and brutality that no mere Human could replicate. While the creature looked somewhat Human like, she knew in her heart that it was not. Her father had always raved of Man Eating Demons that hunted their prey during the night. But, just like her older brother and the rest of their small village, she believed them to be simply the ravings of an old man. Nothing more than a way to keep his two children in line. But, now she had witnessed just that; a man eating Demon that had, for some reason, allowed her to escape. Perhaps it was done on purpose? A punishment for being weak. After all, no one would believe her and she would be haunted by memories of the past until she died. What a tragic life. What a cruel fate.

Raika collapsed in a field; her legs had grown too tired to continue to run and the purple kimono that clung to her body did nothing to keep the cold breeze from attacking her skin. She was shivering, tired and heartbroken. There was nothing more she could do anymore. She was only a woman and her family were simple farmers, not fighters. Her brother was the strongest member of their family and he had been killed within seconds. So, what chance did Raika have? Her life was supposed to be simple. She would marry a farmer boy and then go on to have children and care for her family. That was how life was supposed to go. Not like this.

Now, what was left of her family was dead and whatever had killed them could have been hunting her for sport. That was the only reason she could conceive as to why it had let her flee. After all, it had definitely seen her. Raika had been hiding in one of the cupboards while her family was killed and the Demon had found her. She and the Demon had locked eyes for what must have been at least ten seconds after she had frozen in fear. But he simply gave her a look of surprise before she finally found the courage to move and she ran. She would never forget the face of the Demon and as her green eyes scanned the darkness, she searched for it: Red hair, yellow eyes, deathly pale skin and blue lines that covered his face and chest. It had to be out there somewhere, watching her. But as the minutes flew by, the silence grew louder and nothing happened. Was he taunting her?

"Come on out and kill me already!" Raika screamed at the top of her lungs, tearing pouring down her face.

She was ready to join her family. She was ready to die. Whatever pain that would be inflicted on her would be nothing compared to the sorrow and grief that plagued her heart. It was as though all of the happiness in the world had died along with her father and brother. Just as the silence had become unbearable again, Raika heard the sound of a voice that she didn't recognize.

"Hey, are you okay, miss?" The voice belonged to a man and had a cheerful tone to it.

Raika turned to face the direction of where the voice had come from and found that she was looking at the most peculiar looking man she had ever laid her eyes on. He had hair that shone like the sun; yellow with red tips like flames, that she could notice even though he was standing a few feet away from her. His eyes were the same, yellow on the outside and then red as it got closer to his iris. The man continued to walk towards her with a smile on his face. Raika wasn't sure how she hadn't noticed him until he had spoke. Especially when she had gone out of her way to scan the darkness for any signs of movement.

"Who are you?" Raika asked weakly, "Are you a Demon too?" She asked and much to her surprise the man gave out a laugh.

"A Demon? Of course not. I am Kyojuro Rengoku. I'm a Demon Slayer and the Flame Hashira." He told her enthusiastically before he offered her his hand.

This man, Kyojuro Rengoku was strange, but Raika felt as though she could trust him. She was still shaking but still took Rengoku's hand. It was warm and comforting and as she was pulled to her feet, Raika felt her legs tremble and grabbed onto the man's shoulders for stability. Raika was quite tall for her gender, standing at 5'8 and the man was perhaps only two inches taller than her, making it easy for her to hold onto him. She just needed a moment to catch her breath and regain her strength and Rengoku was just so warm. Without any warning, Rengoku swept his arms under her knees and lifted her into the air with the other arm under her shoulder blades. Now Raika really had to hold on as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Rengoku started to moved, still holding onto her and with a smile on his face that seemed like it was permanent. He didn't look at her once and he also didn't tell her where he was taking her. But, it definitely wasn't home. They were moving in the opposite direction to where her home was. Almost as though he had sensed her nervousness, Rengoku spoke in that same enthusiastic tone from earlier.

"I'm taking you back to my family home. You're going to become a Demon Slayer." Rengoku told her with a smile.

"A Demon Slayer?" Raika questioned. "How could I become like you? I'm just a weak woman."

"You are far from weak. There is a fire in your soul and I will help you kindle those embers until you become a powerful Demon Slayer, er... what was your name?" Rengoku asked the question rather sheepishly with an embarrassed grin on his face.

"My name is Raika Makino." She told him lightly, her eyes examining his face.

"Raika, huh? What a pretty name. It suits you."

A/N: Don't forget to vote/comment/add to library!