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“Come on, Big Sister!” Tanjiro whined, tugging at Nezuko’s kimono. “I can help! I promise I’ll help!” He pleased, sniffling slightly.
“Tanjiro, you’re sick right now, you can get hurt if you come with me to the village.” The older sister replied, patting his head fondly.
“That’s right Tanjiro, your sister needs to head into the village today, and you’re sick so you’ll slow her down.” Their mother appeared, wiping her hands on a towel.
The boy pouted, trudging back inside, wiping his nose against his sleeve. Nezuko laughed lightly, shaking her head.
“Are you sure you want to head into town today?” Kie, her mother, asked. The black haired girl nodded, giving a smile.
“It’ll be alright, I don’t mind. Especially if I can fill their stomachs with good food for the New Year.” Nezuko replied.
Kie smiled softly, running a hand on top of her daughter’s head. “I wish your father could see you now.” She said.
Nezuko hugged her mother once more before waving her goodbye, beginning her walk down the mountainside and into the village down below.
The village people cheerily greeted Nezuko as she went about, selling the charcoal on the large basket behind her. By night, she had bought sweet rice cakes and some of the freshest meat in the village for her family.
The sun had begun to set, had she not run into Old Man Saburo, she would’ve continued her trek into the night. He told her warnings of demons and beasts in the night.
She didn’t want to seem disrespectful so she sat quietly, listening to the few words the man said. He set up her with warm dinner and a mat to sleep on before turning in himself for the night.
~
Morning came and she said her thanks and goodbye before carrying her basket, now filled with wrapped fresh food instead of charcoal.
“I hope the rice cakes will fill their stomachs well enough for the New Year.” She hummed, kicking a pebble in front of her.
As she neared, she took in a heavy scent of blood. It laid thick over the small patch of land her family lived on. Worriedly, she quickened her pace.
Perhaps there had been a dead animal of some sort nearby. But as she looked around, she saw no corpse of any small woodland creature.
She rushed to the house, seeing the front empty.
“Mother! I’m home!” She yelled, walking towards the back.
“Tanjiro? Hanako? Takeo? Shigeru? Rokuta?” She called out. “I have your favorite sweet rice cakes!” She said.
The smell of blood got heavier, thicker. As the back porch came into view, she saw Tanjiro laying unconscious on the ground, over the body of one of the siblings.
Her eyes widened as a silent cry left her lips. “Tanjiro!” She screamed, dropping the basket and running to him.
He was pale and ice cold but still breathing. She turned to see the door was cracked open, a small hand laid through the slight wedge.
Shakily, she pulled the door out. It was as if a boulder slammed into her, knocking the air out of her lungs. She collapsed onto the snow as she stared at all the corpses, mangle, inside the room.
Their lifeless eyes stared blankly ahead. Tears rushed down her cheeks as she let a sob rip out her throat. Some rabid creature had came and killed ber family, everyone—Tanjiro.
He was still alive, barely, but he was there. Nezuko fumbled to her feet, grabbing her little brother and lugging him over her shoulders.
“I’ll get you help, don’t worry!” She whispered, running down the mountain.
I should’ve come home last night. Rather than lay on a warm mat with food in my stomach. I could’ve been here to protect my family. They would still be alive.
She heard a raspy voice groaning from behind. “Don’t worry! I’ll get someone to help, stay with me Tanjiro.” She cried out, tightening her grip on his legs as she hoisted him higher.
A creature like growl ripped through her brother’s throat as he threw himself around, knocking Nezuko off balance. The two tumbled down the side, rolling through bushels and hitting small stones.
Nezuko hit the bottom, her vision blurred for a moment. Groaning, she pulled herself up, her mind set on track she frantically looked for Tanjiro.
Her little brother stood frozen still against the snowy forest. “Tanjiro?” She whispered.
His hands clenched into fists, he tilted his head up revealing bloodthirsty eyes. A loud cry came from him as he lunged for her. Nezuko jumped out of the way, scrambling to her feet, pulling the axe from her belt.
“Tanjiro! It’s me!” She screamed. Her brother didn’t hear her, instead he jumped, his teeth latching to the wooden stick of the axe.
They tumbled back down onto the ground, the two wrestling each other. “Tanjiro it’s me! I’m sorry! You shouldn’t suffer because of me!” She cried out.
“TANJIRO” She screamed, shocking the newborn demon. His eyes cleared once more, the bright blood red dimmed to its normal dark reddish shade. His eyebrows relaxed, releasing its strained position.
A soft whimper came from his lips as he shakily stood over her. Tears formed in his eyes, dropping onto her face. Nezuko let out a soft breath, keeping eye contact with the boy.
“It’s okay,” she whispered. “You’re going to be okay.”
Then a sudden cold rush of wind slammed into Tanjiro, knocking him off her. “Tanjiro!” She called out, pulling herself up.
He wasn’t seen next to her, instead he was growling, thrashing against the hold of a strange man. His face betrayed no emotion.
“Let him go!” Nezuko protested. “I apologize to tell you this but this is no longer your loved one.” He stated bluntly. “He’s always going to be my brother!” She yelled, getting to her feet.
“He’s a demon, a killer of humans. He cannot be allowed to live.” The man replied. Nezuko’s eyes widened before she shook her head frantically. “Please! I’ll fix this! Don’t kill him! He’s all I have left!” She pleaded.
“What do you intend on doing to fix this? There’s nothing you can do to bring your brother back.”
“I’ll find a way! Give me a chance!”
“And what if he kills someone?”
“What?”
“If your brother kills someone. A life is lost.”
“He won’t, I won’t let him. I’ll fight anything to bring him back.”
The man tilted his head slightly, observing the teenage girl. He then turned his attention to the demon still thrashing around, screaming. While he roared and struggled, he made no attempt to bite, the boy simply wanted to get back to his sister.
The male released his hands, watching the demon fly over to his sister, who took him into her arms, hugging him tightly.
“You will meet with Urokodaki and he’ll train you,” the man said. He took a breath before adding, “you best keep your word, or they will be hell to pay.”
Nezuko nodded earnestly. “What is your name, Sir?”
“I am Giyuu Tomioka.”