DISCLAIMER: Kimetsu no Yaiba belongs to Koyoharu Gotouge

Genre: Adventure, Hurt/Comfort

(A/N): Hello people, I am not an idiot except for the fact that I have next to nothing knowledge of how to format stuff like dialogue and those dotty line thingy so beware! This is a reverse role AU and I was inspired by AkabaneKazama's Color of the World reverse AU fanfic. It has its own charm, I have my own (hopeful), please don't attack me.

However, I do want to change the original Kimetsu no Yaiba storyline a bit, despite that it is basically Nezuko taking Tanjiro's stead, but since Nezuko is the demon slayer instead of Tanjiro, wouldn't some things be changed as well? I really hope I can keep most of the writing in character because as I was writing this, it was really hard. Tons of respect for people who write good fanfiction (one example is AkabaneKazama~~~~). Reading The Color of the World reminded me of this one post I saw on instagram by someone with a beautifully adorable style of a reverse role AU where Nezuko's special skill was "Drop-dead kick." Get it? Because as a demon she kicks demons to assist Tanjiro? Now that it's Tanjiro assisting Nezuko, he would head butting demons while Nezuko kicks them :D

The house was warm despite the cold

Soon later, frost will unfold

The house was warm despite the cold, Tanjiro always gets up earlier than the family to warm up the house. It wasn't hard work and didn't take too long, the place was small with only one room for the family of eight to sleep in. Well, technically seven now since their dad has passed away, still, the Kamados stubbornly believes that their father was still there protecting them in spirit.

"I'm going!" Tanjiro was already putting on his shoes, hoisting a basket of coal onto his shoulders. Although he was never in a rush, his red-black hair was always hastily tied into a short tail and he never wipes his face in the morning after he puts the coal into place so his face was always sooty. Nezuko waved back, shifting Rokuta carefully onto her back or else he would throw a fit seeing Tanjiro off.

"I'll see you later!" She called back, "come back as soon as possible, it's alright if you don't sell all the coal. It's New Years after all."

"Ah," Tanjiro placed a hand on the basket, "but I promised Hanako and Shigeru that I'll bring some toys home tonight." His burgundy eyes reflecting the snow like organdy, "I can't lie to them can I?"

Nezuko felt herself frown, Tanjiro was always keeping his promises no matter how extreme it was, his honesty was endearing, but sometimes she wished he would think for himself too. Their mother came from behind the corridor, clutching a clean cloth in her hand. "Tanjiro," she frowned, though her eyes said so otherwise. Nezuko inherited her mother's eyes, although her own color was leaning to the pinker side than her mother's pale violet ones. The rest of the family's irises were all dark red with gentle shades of brown. "You don't have to go today, you know," she came over to wipe Tanjiro's face, the white cloth turning gray from the dust. "I don't want you to come home that late like last time."

"But I want everyone to be full for the New Years," he frowned.

"But we want our house to be full for the New Year," Nezuko stepped forward, "and it wouldn't be if you aren't there."

Tanjiro smiled, a smile without teeth, "I'll see what I can do alright?" He stepped out the door and waved goodbye again, soon his figure was only a smidgen of checkered black and green. His footsteps leaving deep trenches in the snow.

Nezuko's mother turned to her, "You know, that can be said to you too. Don't overwork yourself today, it is New Years."

"I'll see what I can do."

Her mother smiled drily, "Don't play smart with me, Nezuko."

"Well," Nezuko said, " I was actually thinking that Niichan didn't bring lunch with him again so I was hoping I could make something and…" Her voice trailed off, knowing that her mother got the message.

Mom studied her face, "I just told you to take it easy today and then you tell me that you want to go down the mountain to give lunch to Tanjiro." She sighed, "Nezuko, if only your brother brings his own lunch then we wouldn't have to worry."

"It's okay," Nezuko said, "I'm done with my chores anyway, the work was easy and I don't want to stand here in the house doing nothing."

Her mother looked a little forlong, as if Nezuko was sailing away from her instead of just going down the mountain. "Why don't you play with Shigeru and Hanako? Or watch over Takeo and Rokuta?"

"Mom," Nezuko patted Rokuta, "It really is fine, besides, if I go then Niichan can get his lunch and I can tell him to come home earlier." She grinned, "It's a win-win."

In the tiny kitchen bathed with morning light, Nezuko chopped some ginger. The sweet, sharp scent warmed the winter air. As she cut, she noticed the sleeves of her pink, leaf-print kimono frayed and the threads unwinding, twisting around like fallen leaves as her hand moved the knife, she sighed inwardly. Money was not exactly a big problem, they had enough to eat and not starve. Although not enough to eat as much as they would like. On special days like New Years, they could excuse themselves from the budget and indulge in something nice.

Maybe a new toy for Rokuta, a new ax for Takeo... Nezuko was well aware that a small trinket down in town could cost them a day worth of meals but she still considers herself lucky, maybe others don't have to wake up really early and do chores the first thing in the morning but not everyone has a good family like hers.

Nezuko felt a tugging by the waist of her kimono, "Neechan." It was Hanako, "What are you doing?" She looked at her sister, dressed in faded pink, her red eyes like sparkling carmine beneath her bangs.

"I'm making lunch for your Niichan," Nezuko glanced over. "Do you want to help?"

Hanako's eyes sparkled like fresh cranberries.

Two seconds later she had a little helper carefully slicing carrots into thin strips, "Neechan." Hanako said. Nezuko hummed to show that she was listening. "Neechan, can I come with you to give Niichan his lunch?"

Nezuko set her knife down, "Hanako, you know the answer."

"But I can just run if I don't catch up with you!"

"It's not just that," She turned to keep working on the vegetable, "It might be dangerous."

"How would it be dangerous if it's broad daylight?" Hanako protested.

"Yeah, I heard what Mom said to Neechan," a new voice came from behind.

Nezuko turned to see the newcomer, "Takeo?"

Takeo was by the doorframe, bundled up with a green and black checkered scarf like Tanjiro's and a hatchet in his hand, looking as if he was about to go chop some wood. "I was about to go chop some wood, but can I help chop some vegetables instead?"

"Takeo, you know it's not good to eavesdrop and interrupt." Nezuko chided, watching her brother's ears flame from getting exposed.

He ignored the heat on his face, though his smile was getting wobbly, "I am already halfway done with chopping wood."

"Then why don't you go finish it?"

"Then why is Hanako allowed to help?" His voice defiant and his cheeks were almost as red as his eyes.

"Because I'm done washing the clothes with mom!" Hanako said defensively, "So I'm allowed to help Neechan."

Takeo pouted, "But I want to help too…" he muttered.

Not wanting her brother to sulk, Nezuko let him help in the kitchen.

Just as she directed Takeo to drain some beans, Shigeru appeared announcing he was going to help too. "Niichan is going to get me toys so I'm helping too!" Now Nezuko got three little helpers working passionately for their brother's lunch.

Nezuko's mother came over and kissed the top of her head, she placed a hand on Shigeru. "Are you all helping your Neechan with your Niichan's bento?" Shigeru nodded absentmindedly, completely absorbed in the task at hand. She nudged Rokuta who was in her arms, "Rokuta, do you want to help Nezuko?" Rokuta, who just woke up, was rubbing the sleep out of his eyes before air-kissing the food and went back to sleep. Shigeru patted his brother's head.

Nezuko watched her mother smile a bit, then she leaned over and muttered a small message. "Tanjiro, come home soon."

Nezuko hadn't been down the mountain for a long time. She simply went out the door with the pink leaf kimono she has been wearing under a black jacket and a white scarf for extra warmth. As she was trekking down the mountain, her appreciation for Tanjiro grew even more. It had stopped snowing but the cold was still there, well, so was the snow. The wind mussed with her hair into her face so she tied it into a bun, leaving her face bare. The tip of her nose felt numb and the wind bit her hand into numbing cold fingers around the bento box. As she walked, she more like trudged. The snow caught onto Nezuko's boots and she had to lift her knee sky-high to make another step. Her hand curled around the lunchbox, it was a small thing covered in a purple and white checkered cloth from her mother's handkerchief. Despite it being a meager meal for her brother, the fact that the whole family helped make this made it more fuller and satisfying to hold. Speaking of which, Nezuko's mind drifted to dinners when Tanjiro came home early and had time to cook. Everything he did was with heart and love, despite being a boy, he was a great cook. Not just that, he radiated kindness and warmth, everything he did was with honesty and earnesty. Nezuko would remember how the rice would feel more filling and the soup more hearty. Thinking about it, she quickened her pace. Food was best eaten when warm after all.

When the path ended where the town began, Nezuko felt a bit nostalgic. She has been in the town before but that was ages ago, the village was covered in snow like the frosting on those cakes in the bakeries she couldn't afford.

Nezuko began looking for Tanjiro, it was still early afternoon, not yet lunch time so she should hurry. "Excuse me," she said, asking a nearby villager. "Have you seen Tanjiro? A boy with reddish-brown hair and eyes. He has it in a ponytail, he is also wearing a green and black checked haori over a white tunic and a blue scarf. Oh, and earrings that looks like hanafuda cards-"

"I know, I know." The villager held his hand up, "The boy that comes down here everyday to sell coal is kind of hard to miss. He has a scar on the left side of his head right?"

"Yes! He got it from a burner, do you know he is?" Nezuko held the box close to her chest. When Takeo was young, he accidentally knocked over a brazier. Tanjiro got the frayed patch of skin over his head protecting him.

"I think he went that way," the guy pointed behind her. "But maybe he went somewhere else."

"Thank you so much." Nezuko said, her mother always told her to be polite.

She said the same thing to multiple people. And everyone else said the same thing to her. Where was Tanjiro? Even if I can't find him, he should be able to find me. He has a great sense of smell after all, he can even smell emotions! Nezuko slowly grew agitated. The pale blue sky darkened to azure, then streaks of sunset in the cold sky. It has passed lunchtime, the wind was picking up. Nezuko stood at the path of the mountain and sighed, watching her breath form misty clouds in the air. If Tanjiro wasn't in town, then she should wait for him at the mountain when he decided to come back. It was strange, even if Nezuko didn't see Tanjiro, her brother at least could smell her. He could pick up scents from miles away, Nezuko was a bit confused. She sat on a rock, holding the small bento close to her, she sighed. It was now too dark to see her breath now, she wound her black coat over her kimono. Maybe Tanjiro had already gone home? Nezuko waited. The path had trees towering over the pavement like a cage, casting looming shadows on the pale rocks. The cold was now seeping through her coat now, Nezuko got up. Maybe I should get going, I did tell Niichan to get home earlier. Maybe he's home already. When she got up, a cold gust of wind nearly knocked her down. Yup, I should definitely go home.

But just as she walked not even a few miles from her rock, she saw a small silhouette of a hut. Old man Saburo's place! Nezuko thought. Saburo was her neighbor despite the fact that they were miles away, they were only neighbors because they were the only people who lived up there on the mountain. Nevertheless, Saburo was the Kamado family's first coal customer and sometimes Tanjiro would bring a daikon radish down to the elderly on his way to town. Nezuko knew it was late, but maybe he can tell me where Niichan is. She rapped gently on the splintery door. It cracked open, spilling a sliver of yellow light on the snow. "Nezuko?" Saburo's voice was almost as splintery as his door, Nezuko wondered about his health. "What are you doing here?"

"Excuse me, but have you seen Tanjiro along the path here?" She dipped her head in mild apology.

Saburo opened his door further, "Your brother? No, I haven't seen him. What are you doing out here so late?"

"I wanted to give him some lunch, but I didn't see him so I thought you would." Nezuko explained. "Anyways, thanks for telling me what you know, sorry to bother. I'll be on my way now." She turned to leave. A bit disappointed.

"Wait." Saburo said. Nezuko looked back. Her neighbor's face was in full view, the light behind him made his face shadowed and dark but Nezuko could see the worry in his expression just fine. "You might want to stay here for the night."

"Huh? What do you mean? It's fine, really! I know the way to my house anyways."

"No you don't understand. At night..." Saburo lowered his voice. As if whatever he was saying aloud would have it come out of nowhere, "... there are demons!"

In the end, Nezuko decided she should stay with her neighbor for the night. To be honest, she really wasn't that familiar with the road and it was significantly dark. However, she still wanted to spend the New Year's with her family. She wondered if Tanjiro was home yet. "Ever since the beginning of time," Saburo roused Nezuko from her thoughts. "Demons have roamed the earth. They are terrifying creatures with fangs and an appetite for humans." He cleaned up the floor that was littered with umbrellas, he made umbrellas for a living. Saburo picked one up and twirled it around, "It is at night when they are the strongest." He explained, in the dim light. Nezuko could see a demon face painted onto the paper. It looked garish, bright red skin looking neon with the frizzy black hair. It was the sort of thing Nezuko would see kids playing with during festivals. The "spoopy" expression was comical and childish, but Old Man Saburo held it gingerly like it was going to come to life and pounce at him. "They feed off of humans and if they see you they will devour you until you are next to nothing." Nezuko must've looked a bit scared because he grunted and set the umbrella down facing away from her, "There is food under the bowl and the futon is behind the screen door," he gestured vaguely at the closet behind a sea of paper umbrellas. "I will be in the next room if you need me."

Old Man Saburo's cooking was good enough, living alone to have meals by himself gave way to lots of practice in the kitchen. As she finished the last of the broth and rice, she clasped her chopsticks together in silent thanks. Nezuko cleaned up out of habit, her hands moved automatically as her minds wander to her family. What are they doing? Did they eat yet, was it enough? Is Tanjiro home yet?

Nezuko thought about her dinner, a simple meal of rice, broth, and boiled vegetables. It wasn't much different from what she ate at home but she missed the warm chatter that goes around dinner. Hanako would be making a little animal out of vegetables, Takeo would try to finish as fast as he can so he could play with Tanjiro, Shigeru would be trying to feed Rokuta some more tofu and her mother would be smiling gently at the table. Tanjiro would be laughing and… Nezuko nodded sleepily. Her eyelids felt like lead.

Tanjiro would be safe at home…. Nezuko felt her eyelids drop as she slipped to unconsciousness.

(A/N) Am I supposed to but the (A/N) like this? I'll probably fix it later. Anyways, this was much longer than I expected, I don't think the other chapters would be this long. Have a good day.