*DISCLAIMER/HEADS UP NOTICE*

The Demon Slayer franchise is not owned by me and I don't have any say of what the creators do or say. I'm merely posting this for my enjoyment and yours. I've stumbled upon this masterpiece of a franchise and decided to input my own thoughts into words and as such, created the story that you are reading today. All of this is NON-CANON and loosely follows the animated series.

I apologize if it may seem like I'm just rewriting the show or I'm just copying what's already been seen. However, as I said this will loosely follow the animated series and some things will be different and some things won't be. Again, I don't own and am not a part of the Demon Slayer franchise and those who own it. I'm just here to write what's on my mind and enjoy honing my skills for writing future fanfictions.

This is my first time writing about an anime such as this and I apologize if I get words wrong or mislabel articles of clothing. I'm not too technical yet with the entirety of this new world of writing so if I get something wrong or mix my words please feel free to tell me. Constructive criticism is appreciated and I appreciate you for giving me a chance to capture your attention.

Death

Death, blood, fear, and despair was what assaulted Tanjior's nose as he ran up the snowy mountain that his family resided on. The snow crunching lightly under his feet as he discarded the basket on his back from the previous day's activities in the village. His gaze finally rested upon his home as he came to a full stop, the light snowfall and wind not bothering him in the slightest as he took in the sight before him. Feet sinking slightly in the snow, eyes straining while his fists clenched. His body lurching forward as he screamed "Nezuko, Rokuta." His hands falling upon them and beginning to become soaked with the blood of his sister and younger brother, not understanding what had happened while he had been away.

Turning his head slightly as blood was trailing from Nezuko's corpse to the inside of his home, staring at the rest of his family's mangled bodies. "Mother…Hanako," his eyes switched to his younger brothers as tears began to freely cascade down the side of his face. One hand barely holding onto where the door used to be and the other reaching out for them, "Takeo…Shigeru." His heart raced as he heard a slight groan come from behind him, whipping around and staring at Nezuko as her body slightly moved. Arm wrapping around the body of Rokuta a little tighter in a desperate attempt at protecting their youngest sibling, a futile attempt as Tanjiro moved back to her.

"Nezuko…Nezuoko, what happened?" Was all he was able to get out before realizing that she had slipped back into her unconscious state. His gaze slowly went back to the remaining members of the Kamado household and silently prayed. 'Please forgive me, but I need to save Nezuko. I'll be back as soon as I can to bury you all.' Pulling Rokuta slowly from his sister's arm and gently placing him back down. Picking Nezuko up slowly and placing her on his back as he began to descend back down the mountain, hoping to reach the village before it was too late.

'Doctor Lee, I need to find him before it's too late.' Tanjiro's arms tightened around the parts of Nezuko's body that were still hanging on since she was being carried at such a weird angle. "I swear to you Nezuko. I'll save you if it's the last thing I do," he swore out loud to her and to himself as he began to gasp for air. 'This air, I can't breathe. I need to keep moving or she won't survive.' Pushing his legs faster through the snow at his newfound resolve, muscles tightening and his veins beginning to bulge slightly.

A light groaning sound could be heard from behind him as he felt Nezuko's legs begin to flail, her hands tightening on his shoulders as she wildly began to scream and kick. "Nezuko, you have to calm do-ack." Tanjiro never finished his sentence as they were flung off the side of the mountain path he was traveling. Nezuko disappeared from his arms as Tanjiro's legs hit a tree branch. His body spinning slightly before he slammed into the ground, the snow acting as a shield from the forest floor but still hard enough to leave him out of breath.

His vision slowly returned as his eyes opened, seeing the tree he had just fallen from and its broken branches pointing downwards towards him. Almost like spikes ready to be launched from a trap, hearing a loud SNAP as the deadly pieces of wood fell towards his body. Only having moments to act as he took a deep breath and moved out of the way, rolling backwards as a larger piece just scraped his head. Taking a few pieces of his hair with it, hand resting on the snowy floor in a ready stance and the other on the upper portion of the hilt on his hatchet. A position he had not been in since his father's passing and one of the many he had left him with.

~Flashback Start~

"Tanjiro, if you are ever in a fight. You need to know how to get up quickly…watch." Tanjiro's eyes followed his father as he laid himself upon the snow covered ground. "From your back, you need to establish a base. Setting your feet and lower body to help you push off the ground, like this." Watching as he demonstrated the actions he just spoke of. His feet and lower body in position before quickly using his legs to kick up and his lower core muscles to help push him into a ready stance. "See my son, establishing a base for yourself will help you get to your feet quicker as you push off and use the momentum to prepare yourself. Rather than using excessive movement to get off the ground. Now…let's see you try."

~Flashback End~

'Thank you father, your lesson has not been forgotten.' Tanjiro thought silently as he lifted his head and looked for his missing sister. "Nezuko, where'd you go?" His voice but just a whisper as the wind began to pick up, his eyes finally resting on his sister as she stood there. Her bloody clothing hanging from her body as she stood motionless, her head bowed slightly. Tanjiro began rushing towards her as he regained control of his breathing, a look of relief on his face and seeing her standing. "Nezuko, are you okay? Don't worry, I'll get you to Doctor Lee, he'll help patch you up." Stopping just in front of her as his look of relief turned to one of concern, "Nezuko?"

The same gruesome growling noise that Tanjiro heard before he was flung off the cliff was heard again, eyes widening as he realized they came from Nezuko and she charged at him. A loud demonic scream reaching his ears she swiped at him multiple times, barely dodging them as her eyes that used to be so full of love and compassion were not filled with bloodlust. "Nezuko please, snap out of it, this isn't you." Backpedaling quickly as she pressed her advance on her clueless human brother, finally grabbing a hold of him before baring her fangs at him.

Tanjro's muscles and reflexes were already anticipating the incoming attack as the wooden hilt from his hatchet met his demon sister's mouth. Both fighting for dominance as he was driven by his sheer will to stop his sister and turn her human and she was driven by her bloodlust to feed on her human brother. 'I have to get her to stop, she's too strong.' Being forced down to one knee as his sister slowly began to gain the upper hand, her clothing being ripped slightly as Tanjiro could both hear and see her growing larger than her normal self.

'This can't be, she's grown almost twice her size.' Nezuko forced Tanjiro to his back as her grip tightened on her brother's shoulders, a slight pain at how uncomfortable she was squeezing him in the back of his mind as he kept forcing her back. "Nezuko, please, this isn't you. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, for everyone." Tears freely flowing from his face as he tried not to blink, fearing if he did that she'd do something drastic and end him right then and there. "I'm sorry I failed you, I was supposed to be there and I wasn't. Please forgive me, I know you must've suffered horribly. Please come back to me, you're all I have left."

Closing his eyes he felt his strength leaving him as slowly began to accept his fate as he couldn't hold back anymore, eyes shut tight and expecting his throat to be ripped out. Instead feeling the soft tap tap of his sister's tears on his face as he opened his eyes. Seeing her face as she cried above him, her grip loosening and teeth slowly retracting from the hatchet. "Nezuko?" Came the soft voice of her brother as she looked at him, both souls meeting and understanding the other. Pulling her into his chest as she returned to her original form and wept into his chest, pulling his kimono tightly as to not let go.

Tanjiro wasn't sure how long they stayed there, but it was for a while as the siblings both had fallen asleep on the snow floor. Her cries had stopped as she rested peacefully on top of her brother, holding him in the exact same position as when she first fell asleep. Tanjiro slowly picked himself up off the floor as he noticed a different smell in their immediate area, turning his body around quickly to see another human leaning against a tree.

"Ah, you're finally awake." Stated the stranger as one arm rested by his side and the other on the hilt of his blade. "Who are you and what do you want?" Questioned Tanjro, his mind racing with questions as he took in the man's features and posture, noting that he looked a couple of years older than himself. "That's none of your concern," he replied with a harsh glint in his eyes, stunning Tanjiro for a moment at the tone and venom in his voice.

"What is my concern is why you and that…demon…were sleeping together." Taking an authoritative step towards the younger boy, watching his reaction as Tanjiro reached for the hatchet on his hip. "She's my little sister, Nezuko. I calmed her down earlier when we fell off that cliff over there." Pointing to where they had both fallen off the path and the tree that Tanjiro had hit on the way down. "What are your intentions with her? You know she needs to be killed before she hurts anyone else." Stating this as a matter of fact as he's seen this exact scene play out before him before. Some hopeless fool stated that the demon was their friend before being devoured by it moments afterward. "I'm going to cure her, there has to be a way, I'm sure of it."

The stranger took this information by surprise, a demon being calmed down and not devouring anything in sight, especially being as close as she was to her brother. It had never been heard of before, not that others had tried and failed at the same thing.

"Interesting that you were able to calm her down, but I need you to step aside now. She must be killed before she hurts anyone else." Returning to his original calm and collected mindset as he began to walk towards the siblings before stopping. Watching Tanjiro's hatchet being drawn from its scabbard and the younger boy assuming a basic fighting stance. "I don't think so." Answered Tanjiro as he watched the stranger closely.

"Very well, you can die alongside her." Hearing the loud drawn out ring the sword made as he assumed his own fighting stance, both of the young men studied each other before launching their bodies towards each other. Tanjiro swung his hatchet towards the stranger's head with everything he had as the man parried him, countering it with his own slash that barely missed his neck. The two began to trade blows as everytime Tanjiro slashed or tried to cut the stranger he always parried or dodged it and barely threw anything back save for a few swings that would've ended Tanjiro's life if he wasn't careful. Almost as if he was testing him to see his potential and how far he would go to protect his sister who was now a demon.

'This boy has potential, but does he have the heart to do whatever is necessary to protect his sister?' The stranger questioned himself as he decided the fight had gone on long enough, blocking another blow from Tanjiro as they were stuck in a blade lock. The stranger stared at him before disarming him in the blink of an eye, his hatchet being tossed through the air and landing in the snow several feet away.

Tanjiro gasped as he looked from the hatchet back to his opponent before being kicked, the force pushing him past his sister and into a tree. Knocking the wind out of him as his full body made contact and dropped him to his knees, gasping for air. Looking up a few moments later to hear his sister growling and struggling as the stranger held his blade close to her throat. "Don't hurt her, please, she's all I have left." Tanjiro cried out to the stranger that held his sister at his mercy. Hearing his plea for mercy angering him as he grit his teeth.

"Shut up, if you really wanted mercy then you would've killed her yourself. Stop groveling like a new born child and show me why I shouldn't kill her right here right now." Turning Nezuko towards him as he ran his sword through her heart, making Tanjiro gasp as he watched the blade run straight through her body and back out again. Coating not only his sword but the ground in blood he waited for the younger boy to react, 'come on, use your rage and harness it.'

Tanjiro's emotions turned from fearful and desperate to anger and hatred as he hurled a rock that he had hidden behind his back towards the stranger. Seeing him block it but giving him the time to reach his hatchet, picking it up along with another rock that was slightly smaller before rushing towards him. Kicking snow towards the stranger and hurling the rock at the same time so he could be given a chance to get closer. The snow screen briefly blurred his vision as he used his sword to block the rock again. His eyes widening as he saw the hatchet the younger boy was wielding flying towards his head, 'he used the rock and snow as a cover up to throw his hatchet.' Moving out of the way as the hatchet stuck into the tree behind him, cutting off the top portion of his hair as Tanjiro threw a straight punch towards the stranger's face.

Catching him off guard as he was still trying to process that Tanjiro had almost killed him and only just coming back to his senses as he was punched in the face. Blood erupted from his mouth and nose as he didn't expect the boy to have that much strength, causing him to stumble backwards a couple steps before angrily looking up. Watching the boy throw a wider punch this time, 'not happening again.' A powerful kick was sent to Tanjiro's stomach area as he was lifted off the ground.

"Ack," was the only sound that came from Tanjiro's mouth as his attack was interrupted, feeling the hilt of the stranger's sword hit his body as he was forced to the ground. His body was too weak to move as his demon sister had watched everything happen, her demon emotions feeling a sense of protection as she watched the young boy being hit by the man holding her.

"Must…protect…brother…TANJIRO"she screamed as the stranger's hold broke on her. Turning her body towards him as her leg flew into his chest completely catching him off guard, connecting and sending him a few yards away before stopping himself. Watching as she turned towards Tanjiro in the snow, 'no she'll kill him.' Being surprised once again as instead of killing him, she stood before him. Arms outstretched and baring her fangs at him, daring him to come closer.

An inner conflict raging within him at all the events that had just transpired. From seeing the siblings hold each other to the fight with Tanjiro and now watching a demon protect a human. It made his head hurt just thinking about it as he watched Nezuko charge him, throwing her clawed hands towards him in rapid succession. All intent on killing the one who hurt her brother, not slowing down as the man dodged all of her attacks. 'These two may be the answer to everything.'

The man sheathed his sword to create a false sense of security for the demon girl as she lunged at him once again, waiting for the perfect moment to strike as he brought his hand down upon her neck. A gasp escaped her as she fell to the ground unconscious, her body hitting the snow and creating a large puff of air around them.

'Tanjiro…Nezuko' picking up Nezuko and draping her in the cloth that she had shed when she first attacked Tanjiro. 'Don't make me regret this.' Putting them back together as he waited for Tanjiro to awaken.

'Tanjiro…we love you and Nezuko so much. Please look after her.'

Tanjiro awoke moments later as he swore he just heard his mothers voice whisper to him. Finding Nezuko sleeping next to him with a firm grip on her, 'wait…but where is.' "You awake yet?" Came the stranger's question as Tanjiro lifted his head, meeting his gaze as confusion struck him, 'why didn't he kill us?'

"I admit, I didn't expect this outcome from either one of you." He stated truthfully, "go see a man named Sakonji Urokodaki. He lives at the foot of Mt. Sagiri, tell him that Giyu Tomioka sent you." Walking towards the siblings before kneeling in the snow before them both, one hand on Tanjiro's head as he stroked it softly. "You have the heart, soul, and mind of a Slayer. The clouds now will be enough for you to travel for now, make sure you keep her in the shade during the day and only let her out at night otherwise she will burn." A puff of snow being the only thing left in the area he had just been standing in, leaving Tanjiro stunned before looking back to his sister.

Taking what the man…no...Giyu has said to heart. Standing up and putting Nezuko on his back as he walked them back towards their home, everything ran through his mind over and over as he walked back up the mountain. Arriving a short while later as he set Nezuko down just below the edge of the hill so she wouldn't be tempted by the bodies and blood of their family.

Walking towards the house again as tears threatened to leave his eyes again at the carnage of his beloved family. 'Be strong…they're counting on me to save Nezuko.' Wrapping their bodies with what little spare clothing they had and burying them behind the house, digging small graves for each of them as he knew the cloud coverage wouldn't last forever.

Tanjiro finished burying his family a short time later as he prayed and Nezuko stood next to the marked graves of each of his family members. 'Please let them find peace in their next life, they didn't deserve this. I'll protect Nezuko no matter the cost." Finishing his prayer as he stood upon, going into the house one last time as he looked around. Memories of his family inside being together engraved into his mind as he made his way to his mother and father's room. Smiling softly to himself as he remembered the times he would come in and sleep with them both when he was younger. Kneeling down on the ground next to the bed Tanjiro reached under it, his hand searching for a specific item that he couldn't find. A small gasp of relief escaped him as he found it, pulling it back out as it was his father's old sword.

~Flashback Start~

"This is called a Nichirin Sword Tanjiro, this is the weapon that Demon Slayers use to kill demons." His father explained to him as he held it out in front of him, the sword being a beautiful wine red with a beautiful hanafuda attached to the hilt. "This weapon will keep us safe so long as I'm alive, but I need to teach you as well for when I pass. You will take up this sword and protect our family."

Tanjiro sat and listened to his father's words and lessons, the years leading up to his death were filled with breathing techniques and swordsman skills. His father coached him along as he watched him grow slowly, correcting his mistakes as he made them and mastering the basics of how to use the sword.

~Flashback End~

"Thank you father, I won't let you down." Going back outside as he and Nezuko set off, getting to just before the hill as he stopped and turned around. Looking at his home one last time before turning away, slightly jogging towards his destination. 'Sakonji Urokodaki from Mt. Sagiri.'

Author's Notes: This was a very interesting experience for me. I'm honestly not sure of what compelled me to write this but I have enjoyed watching the animated series. If anyone knows where you can read the manga series please feel free to reach out to me as I would like to. I've seen bits and pieces of the whole story but I'd rather read it for myself to truly grasp the universe of Demon Slayer. However, that doesn't mean that I want to stick to the exact script of it either. For example, Tanjirou is 17 and Nezuko is 15 during the time of this first chapter. As the story progresses so will all characters ages in the story. I may switch some around as to more fit the story but that will come in due time. Thank you so very much for reading all the way to the end of this if you have and please feel free to leave a review or message me your thoughts.