Tanjiro's boots crunched in the snow as he pulled the hurt man along the path. The cold wind hit his face and slipped through his clothes. But he didn't stop. He breathed in short, cloudy gasps.
The man was bleeding a lot. His sword was broken in half, and his face was as pale as a ghost. Tanjiro didn't know who he was—just a stranger he found in the forest. But leaving him there wasn't something he could do.
"You'll be okay," Tanjiro said, mostly to keep himself calm. "Just hang on."
Later — Inside the Kamado Home
The fire cracked and popped in the Kamado house, pushing away the cold. Outside, snow still fell in quiet, thick waves.
The man lay on a futon near the fire, covered in blankets. His haori—probably blue once—was torn and soaked in blood. Fresh bandages covered his arms and side. His broken sword lay nearby, useless now.
Tanjiro sat close, watching him.
Across the room, Kei Kamado added another log to the fire. She hadn't said much since Tanjiro came home. Her hands moved with carefully, but her eyes looked far away.
Tanjiro glanced over. "Mother… you haven't said anything since you saw him. Do you know him?"
Kei's hands paused. She kept looking at the flames.
"He's a Demon Slayer," she said at last.
Tanjiro blinked. "You're sure?"
She nodded slowly. "That uniform. I've seen one like it before. They hunt demons."
Tanjiro looked back at the man on the futon, worried. "Then… he was fighting a demon near here?"
Before Kei could answer, the man moved a little. He groaned softly, shifting under the blankets. His eyes opened, red and full of pain.
Tanjiro leaned in. "You're awake. You're safe now. Do you remember what happened?"
The man's voice was rough. "Where… am I?"
"In my home," Tanjiro said. "I found you near the cliffs. You were badly hurt."
The man blinked slowly, trying to think. "Two demons… One girl. She protected the other. Called him Muzan…"
Tanjiro's heart sank. "You saw real demons?"
The man gave a weak nod. "The girl… pink eyes. Pink kimono. She stood in front of me. She wouldn't let me reach him. She called him Muzan-sama."
Kei gasped. She covered her mouth with her hand. "Then it was them…"
Tanjiro turned to her. "You knew about this?"
Kei didn't speak at first. Then she lowered her hand and looked at her lap. "Nezuko left the house this morning. I thought she was just going for a walk. But when I looked outside… I saw her. She was talking to a man. A tall man in black clothes. His name was Muzan."
Tanjiro felt cold all over. "She was talking to a demon?"
Kei nodded. "He said this house was his. That we owed him rent for all the years we lived here. Your father never told you. We didn't want to worry you. But this morning, Muzan-sama came… and said it was time to pay."
Tanjiro stood, fists tight. "Where is Nezuko now?"
"She offered herself," Kei whispered. "To protect us. She went with him because we can't pay. So… he turned her into a demon. And took her away."
Tanjiro's voice cracked. "He what? He turned her into a demon?!"
Kei looked away, tears in her eyes. "She chose it. She left about an hour ago. They disappeared into the trees."
Tanjiro stepped back, shaking.
"She's a demon now," he said. "And she left… for us?"
The man on the futon—his voice clearer now—spoke up. "She didn't act like a demon."
Tanjiro looked at him quickly.
"She fought me," the man said. "But only to protect him. She could have tried to kill me. She didn't. That's… not what demons usually do."
Kei said softly, "She's still Nezuko, even as a demon."
The man nodded. "If that's true… it's rare. But not impossible."
Tanjiro's voice was low. "Then I'll find her. I'll bring her back."
The man watched him. "You'll need more than empty words. You don't have training. You don't have a sword. You don't even know how to find demons."
"I don't care," Tanjiro said. "I can't just stay here."
Kei looked up, worried. "Tanjiro—"
He turned to the man. "What's your name?"
"Giyu," he said. "Giyu Tomioka."
Tanjiro gave a small bow. "Thank you for telling me the truth."
Giyu looked at him for a moment. Then said, "If you really want to find her… join the Demon Slayer Corps. They'll train you. You'll learn how to survive. And you might learn something about Muzan too."
Tanjiro hesitated. "But… they kill demons."
Giyu's voice softened. "Then don't join to kill. Join to protect your sister."
Tanjiro stared into the fire. After a while, he nodded.
"If that's what it takes," he said, "then I'll do it."
Giyu gave the smallest smile. "I know someone who can train you."
That Night — Outside the Kamado Home
The sky was black. No stars, no moon. Just snow falling gently all around.
Tanjiro stood in the clearing behind the house, looking toward the forest.
Kei walked up behind him with a shawl. She wrapped it around his shoulders.
"You're really going," she said.
He nodded. "Nezuko protected us. Now it's my turn."
"She's not the same," she said, her voice soft. "She's not human anymore."
Tanjiro's voice was strong. "She's still my sister. I'll find a way to bring her back."
Far Away — Deep in the Forest
A small fire burned in the woods. Its light danced on the snow.
Nezuko sat near it, her knees pulled up to her chest. Her slit eyes looked strange—clearly not human—but still full of sadness.
Across from her, Muzan stood with arms crossed, eyes on the sky.
Nezuko looked up at him. "Do you think… my family hates me now? Like that Demon Slayer did?"
Muzan was quiet for a long time.
"If your family is anything like you," he said at last, "they don't."
He looked down at her, his face hard to read.
"But if they come to kill you one day… will you fight back?"
Nezuko stared into the fire. Her voice was small and quiet.
"…I don't know."