Chapter Text
The mountain was cold and snowy, even in mid afternoon. The freezing air bit at Nezuko’s face, turning her nose and cheeks pink as she pulled her haori tighter around herself. Still, she stared with determination into the face of her older brother.
“Thank you for being concerned for me, but I’m going.”
Tanjirou’s brow furrowed unhappily, and he crossed his arms. “It’s dangerous with this much snow, so please let me do it. I have charcoal I need to sell at the bottom of the mountain anyways.”
He was always so protective, but it was a little difficult to take him seriously with Hanako and Shigeru hanging off of him.
“Broooootherrrrrr, play with us!” Hanako whined, bouncing up and down a little.
“Yeah, play with us!” Shigeru echoed, tugging on his green haori.
“You can’t come, Tanjirou. You said you would chop wood with Takeo,” she reminded him gently. They both glanced at their younger brother, standing near the tree stump with an ax in hand. Small frown lines sketched his round face, and he looked away, pretending not to listen. Nezuko couldn’t help but laugh a little; he was trying not to pout, and not entirely succeeding. Tanjirou sighed, putting a gentle hand on Hanako’s head to calm her down. He knew she was right, and wasn’t happy about it. They’d been arguing about this for a while.
“I’ve made the journey on my own dozens of times before,” she pushed. “And even if you manage to sell all your charcoal, it won’t be in time for me to use the money to buy food. I want to be able to start preparing the New Year's feast early this year.” She nodded her head towards Takeo, still trying not to pout in the distance, and towards the little ones clinging to Tanjirou’s clothing. “You know they’ll beg to come with you if you go.”
“Will not!” Shigeru retorted.
“Yeah!” Hanako agreed.
Tanjirou’s brows raised almost imperceptibly in skepticism, but he smiled. “Of course you wouldn’t,” he said placatingly, and Nezuko knew she had won.
“Mother, I’m heading down the mountain,” she called out, and Tanjirou’s mahogany eyes spelled defeat. He was stubborn, but so was she.
“Oh, in this weather?” Their mother’s voice floated from around the back of the house, and she walked into view holding Rokuta. His small face was peaceful, asleep. Mother gently handed him off to Tanjirou, who held him affectionately. She approached Nezuko in her slow, gentle way, putting a soft hand to her cheek. “Are you sure? The snow is slippery, it’s dangerous.”
She leaned into the touch a bit, relishing the warmth against her cold skin. “I’ll be alright,” she said. “I’ve made the trip in worse weather.” Her mother brushed a strand of Nezuko’s hair behind her ear, absentmindedly adjusting one of her pink ribbons.
“Okay, then. If you’re sure.” She pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Be safe, dear.”
“Come back soon!” Hanako waved, still holding onto Tanjirou.
Shigeru ran over to her. “Will you get me a treat in town?” She laughed, and patted his head.
“No, I need the money for food.” He wilted slightly. “But,” he perked up, “I’ll whittle you something nice when I get back.” Their family worked with fire, which meant working with wood too. She had started out whittling small animals for fun, but she’d gotten pretty good at it. Shigeru beamed.
“Thanks, sis!” He ran back over to Tanjirou. So clingy, she sighed fondly. Tanjirou looked at her, still indecisive, but mostly resigned.
“Be careful.” Worry clouded his eyes, and he unwrapped his blue scarf with one hand. “Take this, it’s cold.” Nezuko accepted it with a smile, and put it on. It smelled like smoke.
“Thanks.” She reached up and patted his head. “I’ll be back soon!”
She shouldered a basket, waved, and started making her way down the mountain.
The town was emptier than sometimes, with the dreary weather. Still, as Nezuko walked down the street, people popped their heads out of windows or doors to shout greetings, which she returned. Despite living up on the mountain, the Kamado family was well known and well liked. People were always asking the elder siblings for favors, and she and Tanjirou were happy to oblige.
“Hey, Nezuko! What are you doing down the mountain?” Hisa, an older woman who worked the vegetable stall in the marketplace, called out.
“Shopping!” She waved, and ran over.
“New Year’s feast, eh?”
“Yep! Mother has a new recipe she wants to try out.”
“Here, have these daikon radishes for free.” She pushed some towards her. “The seller gave me too many.”
“Oh!” She stepped back, raising her hands. “I couldn’t, thank you, though. I’ll pay for them.”
“Nonsense! It’s the least I can do, since you helped my daughter find her cat last month.”
“It was nothing, I just happened to see its footprints. Please, let me pay.”
“Just take them, girl!” She chuckled, and thrust them into her hands. “It’s my thanks to you.”
“Thank you kindly, ma’am.” She bowed, and placed them in her basket. “Here, I’ll buy some maitake mushrooms, please.”
Nezuko shopped for a while, referring to the carefully written list of ingredients she had, chatting with the sellers and with passersby. The sky grew darker, and lights within houses started turning on. With a basket laden with ingredients, she left the village and started making her way up the mountain.
“Nezuko, is that you?” The voice stopped her in her tracks. The window to a rickety house by the path opened, and Old Man Saburo leaned out. “You aren’t going back up the mountain, are you?” She could still see perfectly well despite the fading light, and his face was creased with worry. “It’s too dangerous.”
She turned, adjusting the basket straps on her back. “It’s okay! I can see fine, I’ll be able to make my way back!”
“You can stay here for tonight, please. Just don’t go up the mountain.” He gestured for her to come over.
“Um, I’m not sure I should.” She shuffled her feet a little. “I don’t want to impose.”
“It’s alright, you and your family are always welcome here.” His brow furrowed, and his voice shook a little. “You don’t want to run into any demons. Come inside.”
“Demons?” She asked softly. She was sitting at the small table in his hut, eating dinner. He was bustling around, preparing bedding. She had heard his family died in a tragic accident, but killed by demons..? That was unlikely.
“Man-eating demons,” he confirmed darkly. “For centuries, they’ve roamed these woods after dark.” His expression was serious; he fully believed what he was telling her. “That’s why it’s not safe after dark. Eat, sleep, and you can get up early to go up the mountain tomorrow.” He shuddered. “Just don’t walk around at night.”
She thanked him for the meal, and he gestured for her to go to bed. Her eyes were heavy, and she nestled into the warm covers. “Do the demons enter houses?” she asked sleepily.
“Yes.” His voice was grave. Her stomach twisted, and she closed her eyes. It’s not real. He’s probably just sad his family is gone.
“Why… why don’t they eat everyone then?”
He turned off the lights, but she could see his expression. It was intense, creased with grief and regret, and something more. Awe, maybe, mixed with anger. “There are demon slayers that kill them. Have for ages.” He lit a pipe, and turned away from her. “Get some sleep.”
As she lay in bed, she turned the information around in her head. Inspected it. I heard his wife and daughter were mauled to death, in the woods. People said it was probably a wild animal. A bear, maybe. Demons. Is that the story he uses to cope with his grief? She was sorry for him. He must be lonely. I should bring the little ones next time we come down…
Sleep took her.
The next morning, Old Man Saburo saw her off. She waved at him, smiling, and started the trek up the mountain. At one point, she took out her small whittling knife and took a piece of wood out of a freshly-fallen tree. I can make something for Shigeru with this.
She hummed softly, mentally planning the feast. We’ve got most of the ingredients now, and Takeo loves daikon radishes, he’ll be so-
She crested the hill, her house coming in sight.
She stopped.
She stared.
Time seemed to stretch, and her vision with it, narrowing in on something laying in the snow, the air around it dark and roiling.
A throat-tearing, gut-wrenching scream split the silence like shattering glass.
Had it come from her? Surely not. She didn’t even scream when Tanjirou got hit in the face with burning coal protecting their younger brother. She didn’t even scream when Father died. She didn’t frighten easily, much to their younger siblings' chagrin.
And yet here she stood, throat raw, head spinning, the basket of ingredients dropped forgotten on the ground.
In the snow, meters ahead of her, Tanjirou laid deathly still. His body covered Rokuta’s, as if he was protecting him. His bloodied hand held his ax.
Oh, there was so much blood. There was blood everywhere, staining his green haori, congealing on Rokuta’s pale skin, turning the snow around them so crimson it looked black, filling the air with a stinging copper scent that made her stomach roil.
She ran.
She was dizzy, she made it to the door, the door was torn open the windows broken the floorboards sticky and dark and oh, oh no, oh god, their eyes. All of their eyes were open, blank, their faces twisted in fear and shock. Their skin was so pale, had she ever seen skin that pale, but blood covered every surface and they were torn apart. She could see everything. Deep scratches, were those bite marks, did a bear do this? A bear that couldn’t hibernate?
What else could do this? What else would do this? She could see their organs, it was like all their blood drained out of their bodies onto the ground and walls and ceiling and how could this happen? Tanjirou and little Rokuta, Mother desperately holding Hanako and Takeo and Shigeru and oh-
She stumbled away from the door, turning to Tanjirou and oh, god, Rokuta, where the two lay in the snow. Was that a flicker of movement? Was Tanjirou not quite as pale as the others? Was the snow around him slightly more melted than it was by Rokuta?
Was he alive?