Melody of Death and a Final Song

A/N: Well this chapter may have some spoiler of Demon Slayer. More specifically about Inosuke's past.

________________________

(Shoku POV)

I could hear screams out in the distance muffled by panicking chokes. Rushing towards the faint sound, I passed through numerous obstacles. Arriving at a cliff, I saw a sight I wish I hadn't ever seen.

(Kotoha POV)

Today was like any other day, and I held Inosuke in my arms. He had grown quite a bit. I threw him a slight smile, and my cute boy giggled.

Walking towards the mountains, I waited for Shoku to arrive. For the past few years, he had been keeping Inosuke and me company.

"Are you excited, Inosuke? Your big brother is coming here to see you again." Inosuke started to wave his arms.

"Mama, can you sing me a song?" He childishly said, and I complied.

"Ok, my dear." I started singing a lullaby as I watched my boy fall to sleep, his face so serene and so cute. I picked him up. "You're going to be called if we keep you on the ground." Taking off my cloak, I wrapped it around my baby and carried him walking back towards the cult.

"Guess Shoku isn't coming."

Walking back, I witnessed something…

A dozen vultures surrounded something as they fought to get closer. It attracted my gaze as I analysed the scene more. 'Is it some sort of corpse?'

But this Idea was shattered as my eyes witnessed something I wished I never had to see. 'They're not just carcasses… They Are.' Gulping, I fell to my feet at the revelation. Looking at the familiar figures, it was my fellow cult sister "Sister Yuri", I cried, looking at her rotting bodies being devoured by the flock of vultures.

I continued to mourn until I heard a voice "Well, she wasn't anywhere near delicious."

'That voice… I know that voice.' I was frozen by fear, but then I looked at my calm baby. Whispering, "I will keep you safe", I mustered up the courage to run away from this slaughter field.

But as I ran away, a figure seemed to approach me.

"Yare Yare, well, I'm heartbroken that you have to die. You were my favourite girl amongst them all if only I didn't have to kill you. Kotoha!" Doma walked out of the shadows, and his eyes gleamed with sinister intentions.

"What are you doing. How could you cannibalise your own people? We put our trust in you." I said, trying to stall for time. 'I have to wait. Maybe someone will save me. If not me, I have to save Inosuke.'

"Oh, little Kotoha, so many questions yet so little answers, but I will tell you one thing." I looked at Doma, who wore an inhumane grin. "I'm not human, surprise!"

Doma's perfect facade broke apart, revealing a monstrous face. His rainbow eyes blazed with murder, and his teeth had become piercing fangs. No trace of emotion could be seen as he emanated a devilish aura.

"How bout this, Kotoha, since I love your voice so much. Let's play a game of Hide and Seek. Here you have a ten-minute head start. Run!"

My heart trembled, and I held Inosuke and ran. His words echoed in my head as adrenaline rushed through my body.

"I can't wait to hear your screams of terror. What a beautiful melody of death…."

His voice echoed in the eerie forest.

I was running, running, running. I lost my breath. I didn't know where I was going or what to do. The only thing I had right now was a mothers instinct to protect her child no matter the cost.

Arriving upon a cliff, I saw a river below. My legs were weak as I fell down, still holding Inosuke.

"Guess this is the end of the road for me, but not you. Do you understand this, Inosuke?" I cried. I had to leave my son, leave him without a mother. Leave him to fend for himself in such a cruel world.

"My son, I'm sorry my time is short. He will arrive any second now. But know that I will always love you."

Inosuke seemingly heard my words, started to cry.

"Here here, don't cry. I will sing you a final Lullaby" Cradling Inosuke, I half cried and sang. I wasn't scared of death. I was scared of what would happen to Inosuke.

​

The branches of the trees swayed along to my singing as the night sky became cloaked with darker clouds. Tears began to drop from heaven, trickling down my face.

"Well then, this is the end of your journey… Kotoha."

Doma stretched his hands out towards the mothers back.

"Any last words…."

I turned my head, "Thank you. Thank you for taking care of us for these years."

Turning back, I kissed Inosuke on the forehead, "Goodbye." Throwing him down below, I said my final farewell to my son.

Stunned at the thanks, Doma couldn't react, his eyes showing a rare trace of surprise.

'What is wrong with this woman. How could she thank me? HOW!' Stabbing his hands into my chest, blood spewed out.

My eyes blurred as I dropped to the ground, and in the corner of my eyes, I saw him.

"AUUUUNTYYYY!"

_____________________________

(Shoku POV)

"AUUUUNTYYYY!"

Rushing towards her, I couldn't think straight. How did this happen, who did it, why would they do such a thing.

Dropping the basket in my hand, I held her in my arms as her blood-stained my clothes, dying it red.

"Don't die. Don't die. Don't die. Don't leave me." Shaking her dying body, I hugged her body close to my own. It was strange... I had barely known the lady, but I cared so much for her. She filled the void in my heart which was made due to the loss of my Grandmother. And now that void will once again return.

"You will be ok. You can't possibly leave me. You cant leave Inosuke either." At that moment, I realised that Inosuke wasn't here as a trace of clarity graced my mind.

It was then I realised another person was there. Staring above me, I saw a devious glare.

"Oh, looks like another person is here to bite the dust." Doma sneered.

"Why would you do this!" Screaming with rage, I gently laid my aunties corpse onto the earth. 'May your body rest in the earth and your soul rise to the heavens' I gave a prayer and then picked up my sword.

"Oh, look here, it seems kind Shoku is angry." Doma mocked. His eyes were full of sarcasm. "I'm so scared."

Not saying a word, I got into a stance. My hands gripped the sword tightly as I tried to stay calm. I was trying to tap into my senses, yet that was prevented by my foe in front of me.

"Oh… This is not fun. Why do you not rush in anger? Well, how about this, if you cannot beat me. I will slaughter your family too."

It was at that moment time seemed to stop, then resumed once again with my heart beating far more than before.

"DIEEEEE"

Swinging my sword at his neck, murder was the only thought in my head.

Woooosh!

Yet Doma merely chuckled and dodged.

Continuing to slash away in a frenzy, I had forgotten all my training, my eyes blinded by rage, and my sword didn't touch anything.

It was then he curled his hand into a fist and struck my face.

Blood splattered on the ground and dripped from my nose, entering my mouth.

Tasting the bitter iron blood, my mind became clouded as I slowly fell to the ground.

'Guess that was it. I'm so pathetic. And now, because of my weakness, we're all gonna die.'

"Well, since this was so fun. I will let you live to feel real pain, to witness true despair, so I can see the look on your face when you lose everything."

A brutal yet elegant face was the final thing I could see...

A ruthless yet gentle voice was the last thing I could hear...

The scent of death filled my nostrils and the blood in my mouth...

My head finally touched the ground, and darkness engulfed my mind as I lost consciousness...

___________________________

A/N: Hmmmmmmmmm. Well, I realised that this chapter was less quality I think. Also my first fight scene. I made it very short well cause an eight year old child shouldnt be able to fight against one of the strongest demons.

I like ducc : )

Final chapter of the volume : )