With a final shudder, Kaoru Hibuko's body collapsed. Blood pooled around him, dark and sticky. Rin Takeda's eyes followed coldly.
"That's how Kaoru Hibuko died," he said, voice flat.
Kuromi stood tall, chest heaving, tears streaming down her face. Her hands shook, grip tightening around the knife. Defiance burned in her eyes.
"Kill us already, you coward," she yelled.
Rin turned his back briefly, then spun around, voice icy.
"This house is already ablaze. You cannot escape; my guards are outside."
Beside her, Kaoru's father groaned weakly, bloodied and barely conscious.
"Kill… me… Kuromi…" he whispered.
Kuromi's chest heaved with grief and rage. She raised the knife, voice choking as she screamed.
"We shall lead the Night of Blood… for what you demons did to us!"
The guards outside laughed at the threat, but Kuromi's eyes burned like fire. She plunged the knife into Kaoru's father's throat.
His body convulsed violently, a strangled scream tearing from his chest as blood poured freely. His eyes widened in shock, then went still, lifeless, leaving only horror frozen on his face.
Kuromi's voice trembled as she whispered through her tears:
"Kaoru… this is your doing."
The house shook with the roaring flames. Smoke choked the room, the heat stinging her skin. Kuromi gritted her teeth and raised the knife again.
With a swift, merciless motion, she drove the blade into her own skull. Blood erupted, dripping from her lips and staining her hands. She gasped once, voice cracking:
"It's… the end… Please… survive, children…"
Her body collapsed onto the floor, lifeless, eyes wide in final horror. Flames danced across the room, smoke curling toward the ceiling, as the house burned and the night was claimed by the Night of Blood.