Tsunami of Dead Tears: Part 2

Chapter 36

The warehouse exploded in front of his eyes.

Muzan tugged his horse back, cringing at the bright light. Dust and debris spilled all over him, and a loud booming sound rattles his demon-enhanced ears. The light of the explosion faded. Muzan looked back at it.

The warehouse was on fire.

Oh no...  Muzan thought.  Tsuka... oh kami, Tsuka...

Muzan immediately leapt out of his horse's saddle and rushed to the burning building, his mind going through a hundred different possibilities. He tried to enter the building, but the flames were too large. The heat burned at his skin, and he was forced to flinch back.

"My lord!!!" Kokushibo shouted from behind. He had also gotten off his horse, and was currently sprinting after Muzan.

No...  Muzan thought, shaking his head as Kokushibo rushed to him.  You wouldn't understand... they're still alive, I know it!

Desperate, Muzan immediately tried going through the flames again, the sound of crackling wood rattling in his head. He tried extending his hand towards the entrance, but the heat was too much.

Curse me!  Muzan thought.  I'm a demon! I'm supposed to withstand this! I have to save them... I have to save them!!!

"My lord!" Kokushibo shouted, grabbing ahold of Muzan and dragging him away from the burning building. Muzan tried resisting, but Kokushibo's strength bested his.

"NO!" Muzan yelled, tears forming in his eyes, trying to struggle out of Kokushibo's grasp. "LET ME GO! I HAVE TO SAVE THEM!"

"They're beyond saving!" Kokushibo said, pulling Muzan back. 

"GET OFF OF ME!" Muzan yelled, pulling his shoulders free from Kokushibo's grasp. He immediately sprinted towards the burning building once again, slowly falling apart.

"My lord, don't!" Kokushibo yelled after him, but Muzan didn't care. He set his eyes straight at the yellow flames.  I'm going to charge through. I don't care if it hurts like hell, I don't care if I die, I'll get Tsuka out. I'll get her out... I'll save her... I'll-

Stop.

Muzan stumbled and fell. He desperately scrambled to his knees, but suddenly he noticed something. He rubbed his face with his hand. It was smeared in ash.

This smells familiar...  Muzan thought.

Muzan, still on his knees, pulled his hand away and looked at it. The white ash stained his palm like chalk, emanating an eerily familiar smell.

No...  Muzan thought.

He frantically gathered a handful of ash that was spread across the ground and put them to his face. He then inhaled their scent, a few particles unintentionally being sucked into his notstrils.

It was the same smell.

Muzan slowly brought his hands down, the ash pouring down in between his fingers. For some reason, his tears stopped. He wasn't crying. A part of him felt shame, but at the same time, another part of him felt pride. Almost like he had accomplished something.

He sniffed at the air. That familiar smell was all around him now, carried by the ashfall that reminded him of the snow at winter. The raging fire in front of him blazed furiously, as if to try and blind him. Muzan slowly closed his eyelids shut, breathing deeply. Finally, a single teardrop slid down his cheeks.

It was the smell of Tsuka's roasting flesh.

"Finally, you see the truth." a voice whispered. It seemed to be coming from the burning warehouse.