Third Person:
Everything was normal (not really) for everyone. The Kamado family, was happy. Their town was happy. Everything and everyone was normal.
Heh, was.
The Kamado family didn't have a lot of money. But they didn't mind. They were happy. Kie Kamado was the mother of the family. She had six kids. Her eldest, Tanjiro, sold coal in the village far down the mountain. But today was different for him. He got sick on his way back recently. Nezuko decided to take his place today since she was the second eldest. She got ready to go down the mountain, when her mother came up to her.
Kie: Nezuko.
Nezuko turns around and sees her mother step out.
Kie: Your face is all covered in soot. Let me clean you up.
Kie kneels in front of Nezuko and wipes her cheeks.
Kie: You know you really don't have to go. All this snow could be dangerous.
Nezuko: Since brother can't go, I have to fill in for him. And I want us to have a good new year's celebration where everyone can eat as much as they want. So I'll sell all the charcoal I can.
Kie sighs at her response.
Kie: How thoughtful.
Kie finishes wiping her face. The two hear a familiar voice right after.
?: Hey sis!
The twins Hanako and Shigeru run up to them.
Shigeru: You're going to town today?
Hanako: I'm coming with you!
Kie: No, you're not. You know you can't walk as fast as Nezuko can, sweetie.
Shigeru: Aw, come on, Mom!
Kie: No way. She's not going to be able to use the cart today, which means she can't give you a ride when you get tired.
They both groan sadly.
Shigeru: Nezuko!
Shigeru hugs Nezuko angrily.
Hanako: I wanna come with you. I promise I'll help out.
Nezuko: That's very generous of you, Hanako. But no. You're staying home today.
Hanako moans sadly.
Nezuko kneels down and pats Shigeru's shoulders.
Nezuko: Sorry, Shigeru. You are too. But I'll bring back goodies, okay?
Shigeru: Promise?
Nezuko: Yeah.
Shigeru chuckles happily.
Nezuko: And Hanako, I'll read for you when I get home later.
Hanako: Kay!
Nezuko: Good girl.
Kie: Thank you for doing this, Nezuko.
Nezuko: Of course. I should get going now.
Another one of Nezuko's siblings was there.
Nezuko: Hey, Takeo, do me a favor while I'm gone, okay? Chop as much wood as you can.
Takeo: Yeah, I was already gonna do that anyway. I just wanted to see if brother could join me. Hmph.
Nezuko walks up to him and strokes his head.
Nezuko: There there now.
Takeo: Knock it off, would you?!
Shigeru: You're blushing, Take!
Takeo: Shut up, you brat!
Nezuko rubs his head again.
Nezuko: There there now.
Takeo: I told you to cut it out!
Everyone laughs at the two. Nezuko chuckles as well.
Everyone waves at Nezuko.
Shigeru: Come back as soon as you can, okay?
Hanako: Be safe and see you when you get back!
On her way down, Nezuko runs into Tanjiro who is carrying Rokuta on his back. He walks up to her with his cane.
Tanjiro: Hey Nezuko.
Nezuko: Hi Tanjiro.
Tanjiro: I had to put Rokuta down for a nap, otherwise he'd throw a fit.
Nezuko: Ever since dad passed he's been glued to your side.
Nezuko pats his heat softly.
Nezuko: Everyone seems to follow you wherever you go. I'll see you when I get back!
Tanjiro: Nezuko, wait!
Nezuko looks at him confused. Tanjiro takes off one of his earrings and hands it to her.
Nezuko: Tanjiro, I can't accept this, it's a family heirloom.
Tanjiro: Please, take it. It's a gift to promise that you'll be okay.
Nezuko looks at it but she decides to accept it.
Nezuko: Thank you Tanjiro.
Tanjiro nods and smiles.
Tanjiro: Have a safe trip!
Nezuko walks down the mountain. She and her family didn't have much, but their happiness made up for it.
A woman swept the floor. She looked up and saw Nezuko, which surprised her.
Woman: Ah, Nezuko! You came down the mountain on a day like today? Alone? You could catch a cold.
Nezuko: It's not as bad as you think. You need a refill on charcoal by any chance?
Man: Hey, Nezuko!
Nezuko: Eh?
Man: I'll take some more!
Man 2: I'm good, but tell your brother I said thanks for fixing my sliding doors the other day.
Woman 2: I need some charcoal, too!
Nezuko chuckles at this. She ended up helping so many people.
It was dark. Nezuko made her way back up the mountain. Her family lived far from the village so it was always a long walk.
Nezuko: How'd it get so late? Oh well, at least I sold out.
As she walks up, she hears a voice from behind.
Man: Hang on! Nezuko!
Nezuko: Eh?
Nezuko turns around and sees a man with his head out the window.
Man: You're not going back up the mountain now. It's simply too dangerous.
Nezuko: Oh, I'll be fine.
Man: You can stay here for the night. Come on. Get inside.
Nezuko: No I'm-
Man: Don't argue. Just get in here... before the demons show up.
The man set up dinner for Nezuko. After eating she thanked him.
Nezuko: Hey, uh, Mr. Saburo, what did you mean by "demons?"
Saburo: There have always been man-eating demons prowling about after dark. That's why it's not safe to go outside at night. Time for bed. You can set off home at first light.
Saburo set up a futon for Nezuko to sleep on. She laid on it while looking at the light.
Nezuko: These demons, they're not able to come inside your house, are they?
Saburo: Yes, they could come in.
Nezuko: But then, wouldn't they just eat everyone?
Saburo: The demon slayers protect us by killing as many as they can. They always have. Now go to sleep. It's lights out.
Saburo turns off the light and Nezuko goes to sleep. She believed there were no demons.
She was so wrong.
Saburo: You be careful now.
It was the next day. Nezuko was ready to leave.
Nezuko: Thank you!
Nezuko ran up the mountain. She was excited to see her family again.
When she got closer she felt odd. For some reason a weird feeling developed inside of her. She was a bit worried but continued to run up the mountain.
Then it stopped.
The feeling stopped.
Because it was no longer a feeling.
Nezuko looked in front of her, panting and sweating scared. She saw Tanjiro and Rokuta lying in a pool of blood. Tanjiro's arm was wrapped around Rokuta. But both had collapsed on the now red painted snow. Nezuko ran up to them scared. She dropped her basket panting heavily.
Nezuko: Tanjiro! What happened? What's going on here? What happened to you?!
Nezuko faced the opened door and gasped. She looked in her home, scared, shocked, upset.
Nezuko: Mom?
What she saw horrified her.
Her family were all covered in blood. They were all dead and badly injured. The blood was everywhere.
Nezuko looked at each of her family members and started to form tears in her eyes. Her family was gone... just like that.
To be continued...
Thanks for reading! 🧡