My Sun and Moon (Akaza x OC)

Chapter 10: Sold Out

a/n: Sorry for skipping a week! I just recently got off from a vacation and didn't have time to write so it took longer than usual! Things will go back to normal from here on out :)

As the mid afternoon sun sat high in the sky, the village Nagano had been tasked with protecting finally came into view. High walls surrounded this village giving protection against wild animals or other neighboring villagers if an attack were to arise. But not enough of a protection against demons, to them she assumed this very wall was more of an invitation rather than a deterrence. She gritted her teeth at the thought. That they'd dare prey on them as long as they have. Oh how she wished that she was able to make it to the village quicker than her mortal body allowed. If she did not require rest, she would have ran day and night if it meant getting here faster. Nonetheless, she was here now. There would be no way she'd be able to fight the demons wherever they were now, she'd have to play by their rules and wait until night time. For now, she'd spend her time gathering information. The more she knew about these attacks, the easier it would be for her to know how to counteract them, hopefully learning their tactics.

As she came into view, the large wooden doors that closed off the village creaked open with a low groan. Standing behind it, two villages stood at either door keeping the heavy doors propped open. It had piqued her curiosity to wonder why the need for such heavy defenses for a village she had been told was no bigger than any others. Perhaps in earlier periods, this village had a history of being under attack constantly. But if so, where were the towers? Angling her head to the tops of the walls as she walked in, she scanned for any sort of guard tower. There had been none in sight, perhaps in a distant past there had been some and were destroyed, but why wouldn't they rebuild? Was there peace for them after that period that they felt there was no need for them? Not that it would help them against demons, with their blinding speed as soon as a non slayer spotted one, they'd be dead within a heart beat.

Perhaps I could persuade the master to have wisteria trees planted in all other villages to allow greater protection. She thought to herself.

She knew of many having Wisteria incense and that had worked just as well. Perhaps that was the reason. Plus, then there would be all the years they'd be forced to wait as the tree grew into its needed stage to wave off demons. And during that time, who knows what might happen if the demons were to find out; could they destroy it preemptively? She shook the thoughts out of her head. They were pointless thoughts anyhow. With the existence of wisteria incense, the trees no longer needed to be grown inside of villages. Though that did mean that their protection had a resource limit. She chewed the inside of her cheek in thought.

"Are you the Hashira they said would be coming?" An elderly man spoke, bringing her mind back to the present.

"I am, yes." Nagano smiled.

"Thank goodness," she watched the old man sigh leaning heavily into his crooked wooden walking stick.

"Are you the leader of this village here?" She asked.

"That is correct, you may call me Shoichi," he dipped his head in greeting.

Dipping hers in return, she rested her hand on the kashira of her katana as they began to slowly walk into the village. "Could you inform me then about the demon attacks?" she requested.

"I can," he nodded.

"How long has it been happening?"

The old man's eyes saddened as he replied, "it's been happening every single night now for the past week. Each night, they take one of our villagers. It doesn't matter if it's a man, woman, or child. They do not care. Though they tend to favor women."