My Sun and Moon (Akaza x OC)

Chapter 19: Wavering Truces

A/n: be prepared for a looooong chapter. Got really in the groove with this one. Had a lot of fun writing.

A Few Days Earlier

The two of them finally after two days of travel, arrived at the town that Nagano had been sent to investigate the missing people. The town that she had died in. The other Hashira had not minded both Giyu and Shinobu heading out, while they had felt the sadness of not just a new Hashira, but a friend to some of them, they had grown concerned about another upper moon showing their face. If anything, they had wanted them to mostly check up on the town to obtain any bit of information about this upper moon so that they might have a chance against them if they were lucky. Many had given their condolences, hoping that Giyu would at least be able to find something to bury, her sword if anything, or even just a piece of her clothing would be enough. Though he doubted it would quell the overwhelming guilt he felt inside.

He should have pushed to help, the issue he had been tasked with had been such a minor one in the end that it would have been alright for it to wait. He wondered constantly throughout those two days if he had pushed a little harder, been a little more insistent in joining her on her mission; Would she have lived? Could they have taken down the upper moon together? Giyu tightened his hands into fists the closer they approached. At this distance alone outside of their protective walls, the amount of damaged buildings he had seen had already given him an inclination of their battle. Whoever she had fought, had been someone of mass strength. The damage done to this town seemed quite close to the damage report Tengen had given them of the Entertainment District. And that had been caused by a fight with two upper moons. Giyu wondered just how horrible the damage truly had been. Though on the other hand, a part of him didn't. Seeing the sheer amount of damage would break him further, that much he was sure.

As if sensing his swelling dread, Shinobu for the first time in two days, spoke up. "Are you sure about this?"

"What do you mean?" He asked.

She sighed, almost as if she were slightly irritable. Though then again, Giyu noticed she had a habit of sounding irritated with him. "Going into the town." She finally replied.

"We traveled all this way. Why would we turn back now?" He asked confused, the two of them now stopped in the middle of the dirt road.

"I can see what it's doing to you, the dread. I only ask just in case it might be too much for you. If anything, I can go in your stead and search for any bit of her-"

"No." Giyu firmly interrupted. "I need to do this. I want to do this." And without waiting for her to respond, he walked forwards, knowing well that she'd follow behind.

He was right to anticipate the oncoming dread he'd feel. Seeing a piece of it from over the walls had only been a small taste, seeing it now, all of the destruction, his heart sank. The townsfolk had already begun rebuilding what they could of their homes, some of them too damaged to even attempt being rebuilt. An entire third of the town had been decimated, buildings barely hanging as massive chunks had been destroyed, the debris scattered about. Gigi's throat tightened.

He watched in the corner of his eye as Shinobu paused to look at him, when he had given a stiff nod the two continued onward. He needed to do this. To find her. At the very least a part of her.

"Oh," a shaking elderly male voice cut through his swirling thoughts. "More Slayers, I'm so surprised news got to you so quickly."

His throat swelled with undesired emotion that prohibited him from replying. Thankfully Shinobu had taken charge.