In the snowy mountains of Japan lived a happy family.
Yet it wasn't happy for long.
You see 2 family members have ruined what was before a happy family life.
Meet the parents of Tanjuro Kamado, Sukio Kamado and Kizu Kamado.
The 2 were as traditional as they come, and unlike most of the Kamado bloodline these people are bitter and cold.
They quickly gained power over the Kamado Household when the main provider, Tanjuro passed away.
With their bodies being too weak they made Tanjiro become the one that provides money to the family.
Failure to bring a satisfactory amount was severely punished.
So slowly yet surely the Kamado Household became a cold household.
Not from the snow or blizzards that would come.
But the coldness that surrounded the heart of the Kamado grandparents.
...
It was another day for Tanjiro Kamado.
Yet it was still not the life he knew.
His grandparents were starting to talk about suitors for him.
As if he wasn't doing enough for the family as is.
He was tired.
Sick even.
Ever since they came into this household the once scent of love and understanding became fully rotten.
The stench was so terrible it made it hard for him to fall asleep at night.
He looked at his once normal hands, now forever marked in a different shades of red.
He looked at his hands, wondering how it would have been if his hands weren't holding coals for so long.
He sighed and started to prepare for another day of work.
Winter times a prime time for coal burners like him.
He got up from his futon and patted his little siblings' heads.
This is the most affection he can give them these days.
He remembered that Nezuko's birthday was coming up and she was eyeing a yukata.
He has nearly enough money saved up and hidden for it.
With a motivation in mind he smiled and went to work.
...
Nezuko was a beautiful girl.
That everyone in the village can tell you, yet...
Her grandparents didn't.
She was never enough for them.
No one was.
She saw how they crushed her mother's heart, such delicate thing was discarded.
It was painful to see her become closed off and ...Empty.
Yet...
Her siblings never lost hope.
They kept trying to make her smile again, over and over to no avail.
Her big brother, he..
He was still as warm as a summer day.
He still shined brightly, just for them.
For her.
She knew he had money hidden, she knew he had something planned for her birthday...
But with the way he's living she was doubting that he'll live to meet it.
He already lost sight in one of his eyes !
That beautiful red was now only a light shade of pink.
Oh she prayed to the god of fire, she prayed to let him keep burning bright.
That she can burn as bright as him.
That her fire doesn't abandon her.
That one day...
She can be as strong as him.
...
Tanjiro was working hard as usual, he was actually getting used to the brutal routine of his.
He missed his sight in his left eye, but he would never regret protecting Rokuta from a piece of coal that was thrown at him.
He also enjoys the higher sense of smell that he obtained.
He can smell the scent of almost anything..
A wild cat, any person...
He also started to smell emotions.
He can tell when someone is happy, and when someone is in pain.
He can help others in ways others can't.
And he loves doing so.
On his way back from home he saw a man walking in the same direction.
Was he Saburo's grandson ?
He thought while noticing his scent
He was so sad.
" Sir ?"
He walked up to him and puts his basket down.
" ... "
" Sir ?
Are you...Okay ?
You seem so...Hopeless "
The man looked up and looked at me, surprise flashing in his eyes.
" Oh um...
My daughter is severly sick..
And only the blue spider lilly can cure her..."
He was pale as the moon, probably from searching for those flowers so much.
His eyes were red and exhausted.
Tanjiro felt bad for the man, he was in a pain he can't help him from.
" Sir don't worry, I'm sure you can find what you're searching for.
They grow a lot around here .
I have to go home now but I hope you the best ! "
Tanjiro grabbed his basket and continued up the hill.
The man smiled at Tanjiro.
And Tanjiro never realized the bullet he dodged that evening.
...
" Tanjiro !"
He heard a voice call for him.
" Ah..Saburo !
Good evening !"
Saburo was a kind old man, yet he was diagnosed with severe dementia..
Always talking about demons after his wife passed away.
" You should come in, it's not safe at night you know ?"
He knew Saburo was right.
Muggers have been getting desperate and he can't risk coming home empty handed.
So he entered Saburo's house and sat down, getting a small bowl of soup.
" You changed a lot since I last saw you kid, it's like you matured too early.."
" Ah...Thank you Saburo, but-"
" No...
It's not something to be thankful for Tanjiro, you're only a kid.
Go to sleep kid, I'll wake you in the morning. "
Tanjiro was shocked.
That was the first time he ever heard that, and it came from someone as kind as Saburo.
He looked at the empty bowl of soup.
A...A kid ?
I'm a kid ?
He decided to go to sleep and think about it on another day.
...
Happiness...
No matter how little..
Ends with a trail of blood.