The sickening sound of steel squelching through blood as it cut clean through his neck in a single sweep was enough to make her sick to her stomach. The reality of what she had done came crashing down on her. The heaviest she had ever felt. The blade tumbled from her grip as trembling hands raised to eye level. They were stained crimson with the blood of her beloved. A gut wrenching scream of anguish rattle from within her like a primal battle cry from within the belly of despair.

 

Pale hands flew upwards to rest upon either side of her head. Crimson covered fingertips curling to bury in the strands, staining them as they went. Her legs trembled and buckled under the weight of her overwhelming grief. Hot tears flowed from her eyes leaving streaks down her cheeks. Was this truly the fate of a demon? Was there truly no repentance and forgiveness? No happiness for these lost creatures? If that were true then there was truly nothing left to live for, for everything she was taught was a lie.

 

A second wail came from her tiers as she threw her hands upon the ground before her. The clanging sound of metal on solid ground, and the feel of cold steel beneath her fingertips brought a small bit of sense back to her unraveling mind. With tear stained features, she lifted her blade delicately within her grasp. If she were to live with this tortured guilty conscience for the rest of her life it would surely drive her mad. Her pale violets drifted towards the slowly disintegrating head of Rui. She could follow him on her own terms. Atone for the broken promises they had made that would never see fruition. 

 

With trembling hands she held her blade poised to cut through her own neck. Cries of protest brought her attention elsewhere once more. She had forgotten that Tanjirou had been there. He was desperately trying to reach her. He had promised to return her to human. Though a life without her love was not worth living. She flashed a tearful smile towards the desperate boy. 'Please forgive me dear friend...'

A swift flick of her wrist was all that it took. Searing pain exploded from the wound she created on her own throat.

 

The feeling of thick, hot liquid spread over her exposed skin. Soaking the fabric of her clothing in crimson. The rich stench of iron assaulted her airways. It was slowly becoming more difficult to breathe. Her body was becoming heavy and a coldness as bitter as a winter frost was spreading through her body like a relentless wave. So this was what death felt like. She would willingly welcome it with open arms. Her pale violets turned towards what remained of her beloved. A smile only someone with a broken heart could produce spread over her lips.

 

"Forgive me. If there is an afterlife for creatures like us. I hope that we can find each other again and truly be happy....forgive...me....Rui..."

 

Like starlight in the night sky when morning came, she faded. If there truly was an afterlife could they be happy in the next life...