Blessed Moonlit Path

The Loss of a Hashira

     -Some hours before-

The hashiras were having a get-together, something they do whether possible (though rarely do they invite Giyu). Each hashira brought a dish, some like Rengoku had to show a sheer amount of restraint not to begin eating before you could arrive.

Shinobu sighed as most of the hashiras eyed her wearily. Her eyes had a certain glint in them only shown when she fought demons. "My my, how rare of (y/n) to be late like this~"

"I flamboyantly agree! Being late to a dinner that I arranged isn't flamboyant at all!" Uzui yelled, his accessories refected an annoying light whenever he jerked his head. "Maybe she came upon a demon that's giving her trouble... Guess you should have gone with her Giyu."

Giyu ignored Uzui.

"Shut up," Shinazugawa snapped. "She's the second strongest hashira, she isn't going to have trouble with some low-life demon."

"Perhaps I should tell (y/n) you thought she was having trouble with a demon," Shinobu looked at Uzui with a terrifying smile. Though he seemed to be scared of the threat of you.

"Please don't fight!" Mitsuri yelped, clearly considered over the tense air. Obanai quickly agreed with Mitsuri, though soon glared at Uzui at his suggestive eyebrow movements.

"...I still wonder why (y/n) is late," muttered the mist hashira. "I can't remember the last time she was late..."

Everyone sweatdropped.

"Bless her soul she makes it here before the food becomes cold," Gyomei muttered while beginning to pray. The chatter continued, talking about anything that came up. Though the only one who wasn't conversing was Giyu.

Giyu continued to stand off to the side in complete silence, but even he couldn't help but wonder where the night hashira was. She's never been late.

The hashiras continued to wait. About thirty minutes passed when they saw her crow descend from the sky, seemly panicked. It collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.

"Caw! Caw! (l/n) (y/n) is in critical condition!" it finally croaked out.

The reactions were immediate. All scrambled up and stumbling over their own feet racing towards where they left their weapons.

Though at least two hashira were needed to stay behind in case of an emergency. Obanai and Gyomei were chosen as the rest set out.

---

They eventually arrived at the village you were sent to. They could only look upon it with horror, grief, and anger.

The village was ruined, every building was torn apart on the ground, and the villagers all laid scattered in their own blood and all clearly dead. They desperately searched for their beloved night hashira, praying to whatever god would listen that you were alive.

Finally, they stumbled into the remains of a battlefield. An area that looked grimmer and destroyed than the rest of the village. Carefully they approached the area despite it being daytime, but it seemed they feared they'd find something more horrible than a demon.

A small gasp left Mitsuri's mouth as she collapsed to her knees, the others rushed towards her.

In front of her was your blood-painted haori. And a few meters from that was your nichirin blade. You were nowhere in sight, leaving them to conclude your fate. You were eaten by a demon. You were torn to shreds. ripped apart most likely screaming as they devoured you alive... And for what? Just another meal? Or out of spite?

Mitsuri first reacted. Bursting into tears, sobbing loudly enough to snap the others out of their daze. You were like another sister to her, someone who accepted her and even went out of your way to buy mochi for her. You were kind, so very kind despite your rough deminer.

Uzui began to curse under his breath, vowing to slay the demon who killed you. You seemly hated him, and to be honest you did hate quite a lot of things. Yet he heard your thoughts, thoughts that were buried deep but still there. Thoughts of kindness, thoughtfulness, and pure-heartedness. You didn't deserve to die, but he bet you died flamboyantly.

Shinazugawa screamed profanities, slicing apart anything near him. Salty tears ran down his cheeks. Why? Why couldn't he protect you? He was useless? He couldn't even protect his own brothers and sister and now... You, he failed you. Dammit! Why couldn't he have one thing in life that he could love without fear of losing? Why couldn't you have come to dinner? Why couldn't he have insisted he go with you on your mission? Why?

Shinobu carefully bent down and took your haori into her shaking hands. She embraced it like it was the last piece of you she had. After all, she just lost another person she loved to demons. She cried and cried but inside her anger towards demons only grew.

Muichiro stared down at the ground, not understanding this bitter and empty feeling. He hated feeling this, yet didn't blame you for this feeling... No, it was whichever demon who slaughtered you who's at fault. For once in his life ever since he met you, you stuck in his mind. He never forgot your advice, insults, and not even ridiculous things such as small habits you had. His mind came to a conclusion, the demon that killed you had to suffer a hundred times worse than you did.

Giyu, although did not show an outward reaction was hurting. He was hurting so very much. Like his very soul was ripped from his body and torn apart. He knew this feeling well. He felt it when his sister died and when Sabito died. He knew he shouldn't have tried to get close to you, but when you defended him when Shinobu teased him; he was captivated. He wanted to be loved again, yet it seems like the gods don't believe he should be happy. After all, he caused his sister's death and Sabito's... You said you'd be fine without him going... So why didn't he just go? Yes, he was tired but that wouldn't have mattered if there was a chance you could alive. Once again it was his fault.

You were dead and they were going to revenge your death.

After a full hour of grieving, the Kakushi finally arrived. Slowly the hashiras buried the bodies and entrusted your items to the Kakushi to clean and repair.

Eventually, all of them left to their estates, crawled into their beds, yet non of them slept. All they could think about is how you suffered, and if you were now free from the hell of being a demon slayer.