My Sun and Moon (Akaza x OC)

Chapter 30: Peace Had Never Tasted so Sweet

"I'm so sorry, So so sorry my dear brother." An unfamiliar feminine voice rang through the silenced air. Looking up, Nagano watched as Tanjiro's younger sister Nezuko clung to his body in a tight embrace, his teeth sinking deeply into her shoulder as she spoke. "I'm sorry I did not understand for so very long. For putting everything on your shoulders. Why is it out of all of us that you always had to suffer? Why is it that kind people who struggle every day get trampled over and over.. It's frustrating, I know, but I'm begging you." She sobbed, "Don't give in, don't turn into a demon. Let's go, we can go back home, back to our little cottage we grew up in."

Not once had she ever heard a word come out of her mouth in the time she had known her. The only time that anything had ever come out of her mouth had been the small muffled sounds behind the piece of bamboo she always held in her mouth. The time she had known the girl had been short, only seeing her just before she had left on the mission when Tanjiro had been in the middle of being trained by her previous master for the Selection. And even then, she had hardly seen the girl. Though to see her now, talking, breathing, human. Was a marvel. To not only conquer the sun, but to return to human once more. The Kamado bloodline seemed almost terrifying to think about.

Screaming out in anger, Tanjiro's demonic body gripped either side of her, his talons sinking deep into her flesh as tried to rip her body off of him. From behind, Zenitsu with a newfound strength and vigor, lept onto his back wrapping both arms and legs around him. "Don't harm her Tanjiro! It's Nezuko! Your Sister! Can't you see she's back to normal? She's human again! If you do this, she'll die! She called you brother didn't you hear!"

Through his sobs, Inosuke in turn stood up and rushed towards his friend. Dropping his swords to his sides, he began wacking the top of his head. "Don't hurt Nezuko!" He shouted in between cries. "You're not that kind of person! You were nice! So go back to being the usual Tanjiro!"

Snarling with anger, Tanjiro let out another angering cry and the area around him erupted in power, sending all who were around him flying in different directions. Colliding with the wall of the building, Nagano winced in pain as her mouth hung open agape as her lungs desperately ached for air. Wincing in pain, she pushed herself out from the broken rubble from the impact of her body, Nagano looked around her. Giyu had been shoved into a building on the opposite side of the road, his head slumped down as he winced in pain. In front of him, both the Kakushi that had held Zenitsu on his walk here crouched in horror as a thick boned spine like whip tore out from his back, along with it, four smaller like barbed whips sprung out lashing around angrily.

Pushing off from the wall, Giyu dashed forwards with his Nichirin still tightly held in hand. "Water Breathing Fourth form, Striking tide!" With several slashes, Giyu made it in the nick of time clashing with the whips knocking them out of the way and protecting both Zenitsu and the Kakushi.

Not too far off to the side, Nagano watched in horror as three more spined whips tore from his back, lashing out angrily, two of which in the direction of the crouched Hakuji as he sat beside another of the Kakushi. Without thinking, Nagano yanked out her Nichirin yet again, "Ninth Form, Splashing Water Flow, Turbulent!"

With one quick splash of movement, Nagano's legs pushed off of the side of the building propelling her with insane speed towards the terror filled eyes of the Kakushi and surprised Hakuji. She needed to be fast. Be faster. If she were just one second too late, she would watch the one who she had just recently come to care immensely for die before her eyes. Something she would never allow, not yet. Not after she just confessed to him, not after she vowed to stay and atone for her sins alongside him. They still had years ahead of them. Countless memories and experiences to share with one another. There were still things she needed to ask of him, for him to explain.