We'll protect each other (SabiGiyuu)

4

Giyuu's POV
When we were about halfway down the mountain, the sun vanished completely beyond the horizon. I was on edge, jumping at every tiny noise or rustle in the bushes. I could tell Sabito was nervous as well. Neither of us had a Nichirin sword, and the night had only just begun. He held my hand with a protective ferocity that felt comforting and scary at the same time. In his other hand, he grasped one of two axes, the other of which he had given to me. He was squeezing it so hard his knuckles were white, and his face bore a look of determination. Whether it was a determination to keep us safe, or to get back as quick as possible, I didn't know.

I stopped running for a second and tugged on Sabito's hand to get him to stop as well. He was visibly tense as he turned his head to look at me. "What."

I rubbed his hand with my thumb in what I hoped was a comforting gesture. "It's gonna be ok," I whispered. "We'll get back safely. You don't have to worry."

Sabito sighed heavily. "I know, but I can't shake the feeling that we're in danger."

I let out a dry laugh. "We are in danger. Then again, we haven't seen any demons yet, so we should be-"

Sabito whipped his head around and threw himself in front of me as a figure threw itself out of a nearby tree. He swung his axe, bringing it down in the thing's head and knocking it to one side, where it lay still. My heart was thumping painfully against my rib cage. I was terrified. I didn't even hear it. If Sabito hadn't heard it, I'd be injured, or worse, dead. I watched in horror as the thing slowly got up and snapped it's head back into place. It turned its head and stared at us with an unnervingly wicked smile. I grit my teeth and brandished my axe.

A demon!

The demon leapt at Sabito, and I dragged him out of the way just in time.

"RUN!!!" I screamed. We both took off, sprinting as fast as possible across the uneven ground. We'll never make it back! That thing is too fast! My lungs were burning, the thin air was making it so hard to breathe. To add the cherry on top, it was now pitch black, making it impossible to see where the hell I was going. Damnit! I tripped on a tripwire, probably from one of Urokodaki's old traps. I fell on my face, and let out a loud grunt as my head made contact with the ground.

"S-Sabito!" The demon bore down on me, clawed hands outstretched. I flipped onto my back and shielded my face with my arms, but the killing blow never came. Instead, I heard a thunk, a sickening crunch, and the familiar slash of a sword. My stomach sank.

Slowly, I uncovered my eyes, daring enough to open them a crack. When I saw the scene before me, I wanted to die. I wanted to scream, cry, and bring the fucking demon back, so I could send it to hell myself.

Urokodaki stood over the dying or dead demon, katana in hand, watching it dissolve into nothing. Once it was completely gone, he turned and ran to Sabito, who lay bloodied at the base of a tree. My breath hitched, and I stumbled over to them. Urokodaki picked Sabito up gently, and began running back to the cabin full tilt. I followed, despite my earlier exhaustion. My arms and legs moved like clockwork, my brain thoughtless. Nothing else mattered if Sabito died.

We arrived back at the cabin, and I opened the door for Urokodaki wordlessly.

"Oh! You're back, how did it-" Makomo gasped and brought her hands to her mouth. She watched in utter shock as Sabito was laid on his bed.

"You two need to rest. Giyuu, you'll sleep in Makomo's room tonight. I need to take care of Sabito." Urokodaki spoke without emotion, an ability I had always envied. But even though he tried to cover it up, I knew he was worried. Deeply, truly, scared for  the life of his adopted son and apprentice. Makomo nodded and guided me into her room, where she laid out a spare bed by the  wall opposite to hers. There, she removed my haori and had me sit down.

I broke down into quiet sobs, tears streaming down my face. Makomo regarded me with a look of pity, and she sat down next to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

"It's going to be okay. Sabito is strong, he'll survive."

"B-but what I-if he..."

"Shhhhhh don't think that. Urokodaki-san knows the basics of medicine, he'll heal Sabito."

I cried for almost an hour. How embarrassing. Makomo just sat there hugging me. She cried a bit as well, as we were both close to him. When I finally finished, my eyes were red and puffy, my cheeks tear-stained, and the blanket I had been using was soaked. I sniffed and climbed under my covers. Makomo wiped her eyes and put a hand on my side.

"Are you going to be ok, Giyuu?"

"As long as Sabito is okay, I'll be fine."

Short chapter, sorry!