"Nezuko! How could you do that to Brother Yang Quan, huh! Your forehead is all red." Tanjirou first went to check on Yoizumi, then Nezuko. Both were his family, and seeing his sister's forehead so red still pained him immensely.
Both sides were demons, so their recovery abilities were exceptional. Such minor scuffles resulted in smooth foreheads in the blink of an eye.
Once this interlude passed, Yoizumi spoke again,
"What exactly happened in the past?"
Whenever Tanjirou recalled that day, he was filled with regret. The hatred in his heart almost consumed him. The tragic deaths of his family had a huge impact on him. If Nezuko hadn't been alive, he might have hanged himself on the spot.
Nezuko, by his side, sensed her brother's emotional fluctuation. She took his hand and held it tightly, her pink eyes looking directly at Tanjirou, calming his turbulent heart slightly. Nezuko then took Yoizumi's hand. This scene reminded Tanjirou of the past, when he and Brother Yang Quan would hold her hands together. Nezuko only let down her guard as the eldest sister at home in front of them, acting like a little sister and doting on her brothers.
Tanjirou lowered his eyelashes, his crimson eyes filled with sorrow.
"That day, as usual, I carried charcoal down the mountain to sell."
..."Tanjirou, it's snowing heavily outside, it's very dangerous, why don't you just not go?" Kamado Kie said softly, gently wiping her son's dirty little face with a clean white handkerchief.
Tanjirou obediently closed his eyes, quietly allowing his mother's gentle hands to move back and forth across his cheeks. Although still young, as the eldest son of the family, he knew his responsibilities were great. Since his father's passing, his mother had been working tirelessly to manage the household and care for his younger siblings. On his somewhat naive face, there was now a sensible and heartwarming smile.
"Mom, it's okay. I must go, because I want our whole family to eat well in the new year!" Tanjirou said firmly, his eyes sparkling with deep love and responsibility for his family.
His younger siblings ran out of the house, clamoring to go to town with him. Tanjirou comforted them, stroking their heads.
"The snow is heavy today, so I can't pull the cart, which means I can't take you with me. Wait for your brother at home, and I'll bring back something delicious."
Hanako and Shigeru could only nod in agreement. Takeo, holding an axe, complained, thinking he could go chop wood with Tanjirou today.
Tanjirou smiled apologetically, reaching out both hands to ruffle the hair of his somewhat tsundere younger brother, which made Takeo shyly pull away. Shigeru pointed at him and said,
"Takeo is shy!"
"I am not!"
The group burst into laughter.
Seeing Takeo's slightly displeased look, Tanjirou said, "Brother Yang Quan isn't coming to town with me today, you can ask him to go with you."
"Really?!"
"Yes!"
Tanjirou re-shouldered a basket of charcoal, looked at his mother and younger siblings, and waved goodbye to them.
"Brother, come back early!"
"Tanjirou, be careful on the way."
Walking a short distance, Tanjirou saw Nezuko and Yoizumi playing with Rokkuta. He walked up to them.
"Rokkuta, Nezuko, Brother Yang Quan."
Yoizumi was lifting Rokkuta up and down, and Rokkuta excitedly shouted, "So high!"
"Brother, are you leaving? Be careful on your way," Nezuko said.
Yoizumi put Rokkuta down, a gentle smile on his face.
"Tanjirou, have a safe trip."
"Yes, I'll leave the house to Brother Yang Quan. I'll be back as soon as possible."
Yoizumi nodded, pulling Rokkuta into his embrace and reaching out to brush the snow from his head. Nezuko smiled and walked over to the tall man and little boy, standing on tiptoes to brush the white snow from the top of Yoizumi's golden hair.
Tanjirou watched this scene and smiled along with them. He wished they could always be together like this. His calloused hand pinched Rokkuta's soft cheek.
"Rokkuta, you must listen to Brother Yang Quan and your sister, okay?"
"Yes! Brother, come back soon!"
...Life, though not easy, was happy. But life also has its ups and downs; it constantly changes, never staying sunny forever, nor snowing forever. And when happiness is destroyed, it always carries the scent of blood.
"It's already this late." Tanjirou walked alone on the dim, snowy path. With each step, he left deep footprints. The snow in the forest was deep, and everything was a vast expanse of white.
"But it's great that I sold all of it," Tanjirou thought, and his steps became lighter. As he quickened his pace to hurry home, a slightly aged voice called out.
"Hey! Tanjirou!"
He turned his head to see an old man peering out of a house, frowning and stopping Tanjirou, who was alone and returning to the mountain so late.
"It's too late, don't go back!"
"My nose is very sensitive, it's fine."
"Stay at my house, come in." The old man's voice carried no room for refusal. Tanjirou was still hesitating when he heard the old man whisper, "Demons will appear!"
"Thank you for the meal!" Finishing the last bite of food, Tanjirou pressed his palms together, placed his chopsticks on the bowl, and took a sip of warm tea. Looking at Saburo-jiisan, he was still somewhat bothered by the mention of demons.
"Saburo-jiisan, what are demons?"
Saburo took out a futon and laid it on the floor, explaining as he tidied up:
"Since a long time ago, demons appear after the sun sets, so you must never go out at night. Finish eating and go to sleep. You can go back early tomorrow."
Lying in the warm futon, looking at the dim yellow light, Tanjirou couldn't quite fall asleep. He looked at Saburo-jiisan, who was smoking nearby.
"Don't demons come into houses?"
Saburo exhaled a puff of smoke, his aged face obscured in the haze.
"They do."
"Then will everyone be eaten?"
"That's why there are demon slayers to kill demons." Tapping the ash out of his pipe, Saburo stood up. "I'm turning off the light. Sleep."
The room plunged into darkness, and Tanjirou closed his eyes.
Saburo-jiisan has lived alone since losing his family; he must be very lonely, right?
Next time, I'll bring Takeo and the others over. Don't be afraid, there won't be any demons, rest easy!
But, Grandma also said something like that before she passed away.
As dawn broke, Tanjirou bid farewell to Saburo-jiisan and headed towards home.
As he neared home, a strong smell of blood assailed his nostrils. Tanjirou's heart tightened, and he immediately ran towards his house. At the doorstep, his usually lively home was utterly silent.
The warm aura of home had vanished, replaced only by the pungent smell of blood that continuously wafted out. Tanjirou trembled, gasping for breath as he approached step by step. When he saw Nezuko and Rokkuta lying in a pool of blood, he cried out in agony, dropping his basket and rushing towards them.
"Nezuko! Rokkuta!"
What on earth happened!
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