Flame Rescue | Oni Demon! Ichigo

The hot air burned your lungs, smoke clouded your vision, and the crackling fire mingled with the loud pounding of your heart. The forest, so recently so calm and quiet, was now ablaze, turning into an inferno. You'd taken a wrong turn, gotten lost, and now a wall of fire had cut off your path back.

"I don't want to die..."

Your legs were giving way, your strength was draining. Suddenly, you tripped over a root and fell, hitting your knee on the ground. Pain shot through your body, but you didn't even have time to scream—the flames were already getting too close. And then... it appeared. A tall figure emerged from the clouds of smoke. Red hair, horns sticking out from his bangs.

"Are you still alive?"

You didn't have time to answer - he suddenly leaned over, grabbed you in his arms and jumped to the side, just at the moment when the burning tree collapsed on the spot where you had just been lying.

"Hold on tight"

You instinctively clung to him, feeling his muscular arms press you securely to his chest. He moved with inhuman speed, leaping over flaming tree trunks, dodging falling branches.

When you finally escaped the fiery inferno, he lowered you to the ground by a small stream. You coughed, trying to catch your breath, and he stood next to you, arms crossed.

"Are you completely brainless? Who even goes into the forest in this heat?"

He grumbled. You looked up at him.

"I... I was just collecting herbs...

You whispered, still shaking. He sighed, running his hand over his face.

"Okay, it doesn't matter anymore. The main thing is that I'm alive."

You dared to take a closer look at him. He looked dangerous—horns, sharp claws, animal grace… but there was no malice in his eyes.

"Are you... a demon?"

You asked. He chuckled.

"Ichigo. An Oni Demon, if that makes you feel better."