the way of the eclipse

maybe in the next life (ending two)

I know I know I should have had this done long ago I just didn't have time and also in case you want doing why I'm posting this in the middle of a school day it's because I'm sick

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I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, the acrid scent of blood and the distant echoes of battle surrounding me like a suffocating fog. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat more desperate than the last. Time seemed to stretch and warp around me, turning seconds into agonizing hours as I fled through the chaos, the remnants of our once-hopeful world crumbling beneath my feet.

Blood—so much blood—painted the ground in gruesome strokes, a testament to the countless lives lost in this final stand against the Demon King. The air was thick with the sounds of clashing swords, desperate cries, and the unrelenting roar of demonic laughter. It was an apocalypse, a battlefield where hope had withered away.

Finally, I broke free from the suffocating ruins, stumbling into the open where the final confrontation was taking place. My breath caught in my throat as I witnessed the sheer destruction unfolding before me. Yuzu, her once-radiant hair now dull and streaked with dirt and blood, fought valiantly among the carnage. She was fierce, determined, but the exhaustion was evident in her every movement. The sun, still hidden beneath the horizon, denied us the one weapon we needed most.

"Yuzu!" I called out, my voice barely a whisper against the roaring chaos. She didn’t hear me, her focus entirely on the monstrous figure before her. Muzan, the Demon King, towered over the battlefield, his presence a black void that sucked the light from the world. His eyes glowed with a malevolent red, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he relished in the suffering around him.

And then I saw it—a tentacle, lined with spikes, hurtling toward Yuzu with deadly precision. Time seemed to slow, the world narrowing to that one horrifying moment. My body moved on instinct, driven by a singular, overwhelming need to protect her. Without thinking, without hesitation, I threw myself at her, pushing her out of the way. The tentacle slashed across my face, pain exploding in a blinding flash of white.

We both hit the ground hard, my vision blurring from the impact. I could feel the warm trickle of blood running down my cheek, the sharp sting of the cut burning into my skin. Yuzu’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what had happened, her hand reaching out to touch my face. “Tsuki—I-I’m so sorry, I—”

I grabbed her shoulders, pulling her close, and pressed my lips to hers in a fierce, desperate kiss. For a moment, the world fell away, the chaos around us fading into nothingness. It was just us, our hearts beating in unison, a silent promise passing between us. When I pulled away, my breath was ragged, my voice hoarse. “I’ll see you on the other side,” I said, my words a vow and a plea.

Before she could protest, I pushed myself to my feet, turning to face the battlefield. Muzan’s laughter echoed in my ears, a chilling reminder of the reality we faced. I could see the other Hashira, my comrades, fighting with everything they had. Some lay still, their bodies broken and lifeless, while others fought on, their movements a blur of desperation and fury. We were all aiming for his neck, all had one thing in mind—‘keep him here until sunrise.’

The hours stretched on, each second feeling like a lifetime. The battle was a blur of movement, a cacophony of sounds that filled my ears. My body screamed in pain, each wound a reminder of the sacrifices we had made. The sky began to lighten, the first rays of dawn peeking over the horizon. Hope surged in my chest, a flicker of light in the darkness.

I saw Tanjirou then, his eyes burning with determination as he fought his way toward Muzan. A powerful attack hurtled toward him, a blow that he would not survive. My body moved before I could think, driven by a desperate need to protect the boy who carried the hope of our future. “MRS. TSUKUYOMI!” he screamed as I pushed him back, jumping in front of him. The attack hit me hard, the force of it sending me crashing to the ground. Pain exploded in my side, a searing agony that stole my breath. I tried to stand, my vision swimming, but my body refused to obey.