1. Family

"Tanjiro, you have soot all over your face, come here," Hana said as she used a handkerchief to wipe the soot off her brother's face.

"It's dangerous with all this snow. You guys don't have to go, you know." Their mother sighed. Hana turned to her mother with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, mother. We'll be fine."

"Yeah, I want everyone to eat their fill on New Year's, so we'll sell as much charcoal as we can," Tanjiro added.

"Please be careful." Their mother smiled.

"Big bro! Big sis!" Shigeru and Hanako ran over, their voices full of excitement. "You're going into town today?" Shigeru asked.

"I'm going with you guys!" Hanako announced cheerfully.

Takeo appeared from behind Shigeru and Hanako, looking over at them.

"No, you're not. You know you can't walk fast like Tanjiro and Hana." Their mother walked over to Shigeru and Hanako.

"Mom!" Shigeru whined.

"You may not. Since they can't use the cart today, they won't be able to give you a ride and carry you when you're tired," their mother stated firmly.

"Big bro! Big Sis!" Shigeru ran over to Hana and Tanjiro, hugging them tightly.

"I wanna go with you guys! I promise I'll help you!" Hanako whined again.

Hana patted Hanako's head. "Thanks, Hanako," Hanako smiled hopefully. "But you're staying home today. I promise I'll make it up to you." She finished.

"Ehhhh?" Her smile dropped and tears formed in her eyes. Hana grabbed Shigeru's shoulders and looked at him.

"Shigeru. I'll get you tons of goodies, okay?" Shigeru's frown turned into a smile. Hana nodded. She then looked over at Hanako. "And Hanako, I'll read to you when I come back," Hana said.

"Okay!" Hanako's smile returned and she was smiling happily. "That's a good girl, Hanako." Hana patted Hanako's head.

"Thank you so much, you two." Their mother thanked.

"Of course." Tanjiro smiled. "Okay, we should be heading out now." Hana said while grabbing a basket of charcoal.

"Takeo. Will you chop as much wood as you can?" Tanjiro asked.

"Sure, I'll do it, but... I was hoping we could do it together." Takeo pouted with a small huff.

Tanjiro walked forward and patted Takeo's head. "There, there." Tanjiro teased, patting his head.

"What's with that all of a sudden?!" Takeo exclaimed.

"Hey, you shut up!" Takeo said with embarrassment. "There, there," Tanjiro continued to pat Takeo's head.

"You're blushing, Take!" Shigeru laughed.

"I said cut it out!" Takeo jumped back to avoid further embarrassment. Everyone burst into laughter.

"Hurry back, okay?" Shigeru called out. "Be safe, okay?" Hanako also shouted.

"Big sister, big brother." Nezuko walked over with Rokuta on her back. Hana and Tanjiro approached Nezuko.

"Hello, Nezuko!" They greeted warmly.

"I was putting Rokuta down for a nap, or he'd make a scene when you both leave. He missed Dad a lot since he passed away. And everyone follows where you go." Hana smiled softly and patted Rokuta's head. "See you later!" Nezuko smiled.

Hana and Tanjiro finally reached town, snowflakes drifting softly around them. Outside a small shop, an elderly woman swept the steps.

"Well now, Hana and Tanjiro! I can't believe you both came down from the mountain on a day like this! You guys are such hard workers! You might catch a cold, you know!" Hana smiled at the lady.

"It's nothing really. Do you have enough charcoal?" Hana asked.

"Hey, Hana! Tanjiro! Can I have some charcoal? Thanks for fixing my sliding doors the other day," a man called out.

"I'll have some charcoal too!" the woman said. Tanjiro also smiled, but was interrupted when a man came rushing over with a bloody nose.

"Tanjiro! Hana!" the man cried. "Oh man, perfect timing!" He ran over crying.

He opened a purple cloth to reveal a broken plate. "I've been accused of breaking this plate! Help me out, will you?" He pleaded. He lifted it up. "Sniff it!" Hana and Tanjiro bent down and smelled the plate.

"Mhmm," Hana nodded. "I smell a cat."

"Oh my, so it was a cat?" the woman questioned aloud.

"I told you it wasn't me!" the man said.

"Ah, Hana, Tanjiro, could one of you give me a hand with this luggage?" another man asked.

By the time they finished, night had settled over the town.

"Oh man, it's late already," Tanjiro sighed. Hana nodded, glancing at her brother.

"Hey, Hana, Tanjiro!" a man shouted.

"Hm?" Hana turned around to look at a man.

"Are you both going to head back up the mountain?" the man asked. They nodded.

"You'd better not. It's too dangerous," the man warned.

"Me and my big sis have a great sense of smell, so we'll be fine." Tanjiro assured.

"You can stay here for the night. Come on, get back." the man said..Hana and Tanjiro looked at each other.

"But..." Tanjiro began.

"Don't argue! Come on! Before the demons come." He insisted.

"Alright." They said reluctantly, following the man.

"Thank you so much for the meal!" Hana and Tanjiro thanked, both enjoying the warm meal the man served them.

"Hey, Grandad Saburo, what are demons like?" Tanjiro asked curiously. Hana looked at Saburo.

"Man-eating demons have always prowled the land once it gets dark. That's why you should never stroll around at night." Saburo explained, setting up a futon for them.

"If you're both done eating, go to bed. You can set off for home at first light," he said. They nodded.

"These demons wouldn't come inside your house, would they?" Tanjiro asked.

"Yes, they'd come in," he replied simply, blowing out a puff of smoke.

"Then, everyone would get eaten up by the demons." Hana said softly, worry in her voice.

"That's why the demon slayers protect us by slaying them...since way back. Lights out now. Go to sleep." Saying this, he left the room.

"Hana." Tanjiro muttered once Saburo was gone.

"Yeahh?" She replied softly.

"Old man Saburo is all alone after losing his whole family. He must be so lonely," he said sadly.

"Yeahh, we'll bring our brothers and sisters next time, and tell him that there are no demons. And he does not need to be scared." She replied.

"But then, come to think of it, didn't grandma use to say the same thing when she was still alive?" She wondered.

With that, Hana and Tanjiro closed their eyes and slept peacefully, unaware of the tragedy that awaited them in the morning.