Chapter Text
It’s finally over.
The battle with Muzan is finished, the grotesque, oversized, infantile form he had taken burning away in the light of the sun. Those who survived the fight are grieving, yes, despairing for the loss of their comrades, but it isn’t long before this feeling is overshadowed with relief. Kakushi are there, treating who they can, crying for those who cannot be saved. The list of casualties is long, but countless lives have also been saved by this battle’s victory. One of the names included on the list… is Kamado Tanjirou.
“Tomioka-san! Tomioka-san!” a kakushi says, pleading frantically with the water Pillar, Giyuu Tomioka. “Please, we’re begging you, don’t move!”
“Where’s Tanjirou… Is Tanjirou okay?” He asks, continuing forward despite the desperate request.
“... A-anyways, first aid!” The kakushi puts his arms out to block him, stepping in the way. But it doesn’t stop him from seeing.
The Pillar’s eyes widen, seeing his friend kneeling on the ground. His sword in his lap, hand around the hilt loosely. Left arm missing entirely. Head slumped forward. Some form of fleshy bulb over his right eye. Three kakushi are around the child’s body, crying quietly.
“He’s not breathing, and he has no pulse. Tanjirou…” one of the kakushi says, hand on the boy’s, Tanjirou’s, back.
As Tomioka’s face falls, the cries begin to turn to sobs, soon followed by tears of his own. He stumbles forward, falling to his knees in front of his dead friend and resting his hand over the boy’s.
“I failed to protect someone again,” he says, resting his own forehead against that of Tanjirou as his tears begin to fall. “I’m always the one being protected by people… Forgive me. I’m sorry, Nezuko.”
The apology falls on the ears of a girl with black hair and red eyes that are flowing with tears, running towards the Pillar and her brother.
“I’m so sorry.”