It's been a while but here's the next chapter!

They all watch from the cliff; the air feels heavy with anticipation and fear. Shizuo pulls Kasuka a bit behind him and Izaya finds his way to Kasuka's other side.

"If this works it'll be my first time seeing it."

Izaya says, voice distant. Shizuo nods, squeezing his brothers hand.

"Ours too."

Suddenly a large silhouette is visible on the horizon, approaching rapidly. The sinspawn are going wild in their cages and soon Sin is close enough to see. It's enormous, covered in dark grey skin. Shizuo gets the chills just looking at it and he blocks Kasuka with his body instinctively. Izaya has gone wide-eyed, trembling slightly with rage or fear Shizuo doesn't know. As Sin gets closer the Crusaders on the beach charge forward, attacking the Sinspawn that crawl from the water as the cannons go off.

Suddenly Sin is surrounded by a large purple dome of light and the dome stretches outward, flashing almost blindingly, before exploding forward, rushing at the beach. Shizuo stares in horror as most of the Crusaders practically disintegrate on the spot. The ground shakes violently and part of the cliff crumbles under their feet. He tries to back away but he's not quick enough and he falls, almost bringing Kasuka with him but he let's go last second. He tumbles down the cliff, grabbing at rocks to try and stop himself but eventually he hits the ground hard and loses consciousness quickly.

He wakes up later to Kasuka's concerned face. Kasuka helps him sit up and Shizuo rubs his head. He can remember what happened so that's good. He looks around at the devastation, there's too many bodies, many in pieces, this... Shizuo doesn't even have the words to describe the horror and sadness he feels.

"Sin?"

He asks and Kasuka frowns.

"It got away. Once it was gone I came down to check on you, I had to heal your head."

Shizuo closes his eyes and sighs heavily.

"Did it even take damage?"

Kasuka shakes his head and helps Shizuo to his feet.

"It didn't seem like it."

Shizuo looks around at the destruction once more and frowns.

"Where's Izaya? And Yuna's group?"

Kasuka brushes the sand off his clothes.

"Izaya is helping with healing the wounded and since I haven't seen them around I assume Yuna's group left without us."

Shizuo nodded, it made sense that they'd want to finish their pilgrimage quickly after seeing that. He doesn't blame them for leaving.

"Are you going to help with the healing as well?"

Kasuka nods.

"I was just checking on you first. Come on."

They pass Crusaders collecting bodies with solemn faces, some Al Behd are curled up against the cliff wall with looks of despair on their faces. Kasuka leads him up a road to the top of the cliff where people are curled up on the grass in various states of pain. Izaya is speaking softly to one as he draws runes in the air with his knife. The pain on the man's face eases slowly and Izaya stands to move on to the next person. He spots them and waves them over.

"I'm doing what I can, but I don't know any strong healing spells. I'll leave the ones with larger injuries to you, if that's okay?"

Kasuka nods and hands Izaya a vial.

"Here, this should help you keep up you magic."

Izaya takes it with a tired smile.

"Thanks."

He downs the liquid and looks to Shizuo.

"You okay after that fall?"

Shizuo nods.

"I'm fine. How long was I out?"

Izaya sighs.

"It was about an hour before the Crusaders deemed the beach safe enough for Kasuka to get down there. You had a little armed guard as the took care of the rest of the sinspawn they'd captured."

Shizuo frowns, that was a long time to be unconscious, but he's glad the Crusaders were thorough at least.

"Alright. Once you two finish healing we'll find a place to rest."

Izaya nods and both he and Kasuka go about healing. They finish up around sunset and one of the Crusaders calls them over.

"We have two surviving chocobos if you need them. It's a long road to Djose from here and it's almost dark."

Kasuka nods.

"We would appreciate that."

Shizuo sighs.

"Only two means one of us is going to have to ride with someone else."

He wants to insist that Kasuka should ride with him, but it makes more sense for the Izaya and Kasuka to ride together because they weigh less so he doesn't complain when that's what they settle on. The Crusader brings the chocobos over. Izaya turns to Shizuo.

"If fiends attack would it be better to have Kasuka on the front or the back?"

He's surprised that Izaya would ask him that but Izaya is letting him have the choice on how to protect his brother. He thinks it over for a moment.

"The back would be best."

It's rare for fiends to attack chocobo riders but that doesn't mean it never happens. It's better to be safe than sorry. Izaya climbs onto the huge yellow bird and Shizuo helps Kasuka climb on behind him. He makes sure they're settled before climbing onto his chocobo and he leads the way to Djose.