the way of the eclipse

Mrs. Tsukuyomi?

"Mrs. Tsukuyomi?" A sweet male voice called out, cutting through the fog of my hazy consciousness. I turned my head, wincing as a jolt of pain shot down my back. The voice belonged to the same redheaded boy from the mission. His reddish burgundy eyes were filled with a mixture of relief and apprehension.

"Yes?" I replied, my tone unintentionally sharp, betraying my irritation and fatigue.

"Oh, I'm just happy to see that you're okay. Can you promise that you won't kill me?" he asked, his nervousness evident in his voice.

"Depends on what it is," I said, tilting my head slightly, trying to ignore the throbbing pain that followed the movement.

"Well... When I was battling the demon, I had to use your sword, and... I broke it," he confessed, laughing nervously.

My face darkened, and his eyes widened in fear. "Who the hell gave you permission to touch my things?" I demanded, my voice low and dangerous. He was lucky I couldn't kick his ass at that moment. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my rising anger, and looked down at my lap. "How long was I out for?" I asked quietly.

"Almost a week," the boy replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

I closed my eyes, the weight of the past few days pressing down on me. Sometimes I like to think that this mission somehow changed how I viewed the people around me because I did change after this, and not for the better.

"Thank you. Where is Yuzu?" I asked, my tone still brusque.

"Oh, she is back at the Eclipse Estate, I think. she was a lot of help during the battle," the boy said. My eyes drifted around the room, taking in the two other boys sleeping beside us, the other two from the mission.

"Anything else I should be aware of?" I asked, side-eyeing him.

"Oh, the Sound Pillar retired," he said, something sad in his tone. My eyes shot open, and I smiled widely.

"LET'S FUCKING GO! SOMEONE THROW A CELEBRATION PARTY!" I shouted happily.

"Can you shut up?" a feminine voice snapped from across the room.

"Excuse me?" I said, turning to face the source of the voice. A girl with blue hair and piercing yellow eyes stood there. She wore a typical uniform with a snowflake haori that reminded me of Yuzu for obvious reasons.

"And who might you be?" I asked sharply.

"Kori," she replied formally, her gaze unwavering.

"Mrs. Tsukuyomi?" A rough female voice called from behind us as the door to the room opened. I turned to see one of the residents of the Butterfly Estate—Aoi, I think her name was. I wasn't sure; I didn't spend a lot of time here.

"Yes?" I said sassily.

"I... have a letter for you," she said, handing me an envelope.

I sighed, taking the envelope from her and opening it. As I read the letter, my mouth fell open, eyes wide. It felt like all the air had been sucked out of me, and I couldn't speak. Tears started to run down my face as I dropped the letter.

Dear Tsukuyomi Tsuki,

I regret to inform you that your sister, Tsukuyomi Luna, has passed away from her latest mission. The only item recovered from the incident was a handmade keychain.

While this news is undoubtedly difficult to bear, I must also convey some positive developments that are unrelated to Luna's passing. With the recent retirement of the Sound Pillar, you have been promoted to the rank of 5th strongest among our ranks.

Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss, and may you find strength in the days ahead.

Sincerely,

Master

The words blurred as the tears streamed down my cheeks. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Kori standing there, her expression surprisingly gentle.

"I'm sorry for your loss," she said softly.
  

"Why are you snooping in on my letter?" I snapped, my voice harsh and edged with the rawness of my grief. The anger barely masked the sadness threatening to spill over.

"I-I..." she stammered, her eyes wide with shock and searching for an excuse. Her hesitation only fueled my frustration.

"Just shut the f*** up!" I screamed, my voice cracking. "Leave me alone! Please, I just need some time alone! All I need is some time alone! Let me have some time alone!" The desperation in my voice echoed through the room as she backed away from me, her face pale and stricken.

I turned away, my chest heaving with the effort of trying to contain my emotions. The letter lay on the floor where I had dropped it, its contents a cruel reminder of the reality I wished I could escape. Tears streamed down my face, hot and relentless, and I could no longer hold back the sobs that wracked my body.

Kori stood frozen in place, her hands trembling slightly. "Tsuki, I'm so sorry," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I didn't respond. I couldn't. The weight of Luna's death, combined with the overwhelming responsibilities now placed on my shoulders, was too much to bear. I sank to the floor, clutching my knees to my chest, and buried my face in my arms.

Minutes felt like hours as I sat there, lost in my grief. The room around me blurred into a haze, and all I could focus on was the crushing pain in my heart. Luna was gone, and nothing could ever bring her back.