~Nobody Else~ { M. Tokito}

Chapter 33 ~ Crossing The Bridge {Final Chapter}

Atsumi and Muichiro haven't been able to communicate the way they need to with his packed schedule. Muichiro finally completes his training period and agrees to meet up and talk, but Atsumi doesn't know what about. Atsumi is close to the place they chose, but when Muichiro zooms past her, she simply follows. Neither can't get a word in before an explosion goes off, startling them both. Atsumi lags behind him and watches close behind as the Hashira—plus Tanjiro—do their best at killing Muzan. Her mind starts racing, and everything changes when they suddenly fall through the ground.
Atsumi blanks out. She stays in that spot for a while, praying that they will be alright and that Muichrio will come back alive. But every second that passes feels agonizing. Too much time has passed, so she makes up her mind, takes five deep breaths and jumps down into the unknown of her awaiting doom.

Atsumi sprints and jumps through the strange castle she was dropped in. There are demons at every turn trying to kill her, but she manages to make it through and kill them all. Lucky.
This is not what I want. All I wanted to do was see Muichiro and tell him how I felt. Now I'm running for my life in a weird-ass building.
She runs and runs, cutting at anything that moves near her. She gets transported to another room with—big surprise—demons. But thanks to Sora, who was also transported there, they both make it out alive. They leave the room and are back to running aimlessly through the halls. But again they are separated and Atsumi is thrown into another room.
This one is much worse than anything else she's experienced tonight. There's Gyomei, Sanemi, Genya and Muichiro fighting a demon. Strangely, the demon wields a sword. Events take an even worse turn when she falls right in the midst of the battle. All she can do in this situation is watch. Her eyes lock on Muichiro and she runs toward him with her sword.

So what if I die? Muichiro is all I care about now. If only he can hear me before-

Slice!

No . . .

She didn't know what happened to her, but it was too late to consider the possibilities. All Atsumi knows is that some kind of waves came from the powerful demon that pillars were trying to kill. And before her eyes, Genya's and Muichiro's bodies are cut in halves. Genya collapses to the ground, and Muichiro's torso falls from his upper half. Everything is happening so fast that Atsumi doesn't know what to make of things.
Something was wrong inside. Something didn't feel right in her body. She falls and rolls over the ground. A surge of pain shoots up her foot. Her ankle must be broken. But an even worse, indescribably pain settles by her midsection. Trembling, she looks down at her body. Blood pours expeditiously from where her legs should be. Starting at the middle of her thighs, there is nothing. Absolutely nothing. Her legs are far away from the rest of her body, lying limp on the hard, rumbling ground. Her head feels light as she watches her body perish in front of her.
Atsumi's family comes to mind, and the grief they will feel after hearing of her death. She never imagined that her life would end this way. But of course, we all knew that was never going to happen. Any other outcome wouldn't be realistic in this kind of world, definitely not in this situation. Was all of her pain this year even worth it if she couldn't even get what she wanted? Well, maybe it was after all. There were some enjoyable moments, awkward ones as well. Memories of the times she and Muichiro spent flicker through her mind. It wasn't for nothing, because he made her feel happy. He may have had some issues, but he was a good friend in the end. Even before his psychic transformation, he was good to her. The time he showed chivalry by stopping that creepy boy from touching her, the night he saved her life and brought her to safety, and most recently when he called her pretty. Those were happy moments. He even established a healthy relationship with Sora, not just for her protection. He was a good person. It took time for that person to make an appearance in her life, but he was there all along.
Atsumi weakly fixes her sight on the battle. Gyomei and Sanemi are the last ones standing. The Wind Hashira moves like a mad man, swinging his sword at nothing. Gyomei grabs him and exclaims that the fight is finally over, that they had one. Sanemi slumps forward. Genya calls for Gyomei, asking if they've won. Gyomei brings his brother to him and lays his body down to show that he's alive.
Ears ringing, Atsumi desperately uses the last of her energy to call his name. His head actually turns to her, exceeding her grim expectations, and comes over to her.
"Takahashi? What are you doing here?"
Atsumi could barely lift her head to look at the man. She speaks feebly."P-please . . . Muichrio . . ."
He shows to know what she means and lifts her off the ground. Atsumi groans at the numbing, but lingering pain in her legs-or what's left of them.
"I will take you to him," says Gyomei. He carries Atsumi over to Muichiros corpse. She can hardly cry seeing his remaining body. Any energy she has left is almost gone. As gently as he can, the blind hashira lays her down beside Muichiro. His torso is covered with a drape of sorts, but his eyes are still open. Tears pour down from Atsumi's face, wetting the ground underneath. With every hint of energy that remains, she lifts her arm to hold Muichiro's hand one last time.
I'm so sorry, Muichiro . . . I wish I had given you a chance sooner. You're a wonderful boy. You don't deserve this, not at all. We could've grown up together, lived out our lives happily. I didn't feel this way before-I tried hard not to-but I love you. I love you, Tokito Muichiro. I wish to see you soon, to make things right with you in the afterlife. And maybe, just maybe, we will meet once again in another life.
Things could've been way different, but I just had to go and act like I was too good for you. If I had done things differently, you would not have died oblivious to how I truly feel about you. If I had just accepted the truth sooner, then . . . Heh, who am I kidding?
What did I think was going to happen? That I would confess my love to the Mist Pillar in the middle of a death sentence, he'd accept it and feel the same way, and then we'd go off and get married? What an idiot. How stupid to think that was ever a chance. This world is cruel and sad and miserable. And look at you now, dying on the ground in some place you don't even know. But . . . at least I'm here with him. Taking my last breath beside him is the only good thing to occur on this horrible day.
Everything comes to an end as it all turns to black. Her shaking, dying breath is caught hard in her throat, and her heart stops beating. It's a terrible feeling to experience-it really is. Atsumi's body can't give her the grace of closing her eyes, so the last thing she is forced to stare at is Muichiro's still, bloody face.