Nezuko Kamado loves her family more than anything in the entire world. Being isolated in a mountain with such loving, nurturing, and caring parents made them the only people she truly came to know. Her parents have been happily married for 20 years and she was the eldest sister to four children and the younger sister to the eldest son. Her father and elder brother would go into the town at the bottom of the mountains to sell charcoal that was chopped down from her younger brother, Takeo. They also sell scarfs, quilts, and haori's that her mother sewn or knitted herself. Nezuko's job was to take care of the younger three children who couldn't be older than seven-years-old.

Life wasn't easy for them, especially recently. They were somewhat poor even with selling the materials, her father would get weaker and weaker everyday, recently her elder brother Tanjirou has been getting sick from having to go down the mountains alone and even on the coldest days of the season, and her mother was too busy trying to take care of them to finish her projects. So this left her to do what she was going to do today. In her father and brother's place, she's going to town to sell charcoal, buy Tanjirou and her father their medicines, get her younger siblings, Rokuta and Shigeru, goodies, and restock on some ingredients for dinner. When she brought this upon her family, her mother and father were grateful for her help. When Tanjirou heard, he was concerned for her health in the cold which she found ironic, because he was the one who was sick. Nonetheless, he let her go and gave her his best regards.

Her younger siblings had completely different reactions. Hanako and Shigeru wanted to tag along, Takeo wanted her to stay and help chop wood with him while her baby brother Rokuta wanted her to stay behind to play with him. It was hard to not listen to what they say because she hates leaving them behind or making them feel sad. So she decided on this. Tomorrow she'll get up bright and early to help Takeo as best as she could, she'll bring Hanako and tie her to her body when she gets tired, Shigeru will go next time, and made a promise to Rokuta to play with him once she comes home. Everybody found that to be about fair and sent the two daughters on their way, leading them to where they were now.

With her little sister's hand in hers, Nezuko was walking towards the town, having her basket of charcoal on her back. Hanako had a bag full of blankets that their mother wanted to be delivered. "If we sell out early, we can get home to Mommy, Daddy and the others!" The little girl cheers. Nezuko chuckles and looks down at her sister.

"So let's do the rest we can, okay?" Nezuko grips Hanako's hand tighter.

"Mhm!"

They made it in and was immediately recognized by an elderly woman who was sweeping her front porch. "Nezuko and Hanako?! Why are you young ladies down here during a cold day like this? Is your father and brother feeling alright?" She asked with a hand on her chin. The older sister shakes his head sadly, but keeps a smile on her face.

"Unfortunately they're not feeling well, Hiyoshi-san. Dad isn't able to stand up for long periods of time and Nii-san caught a cold."

The elder gasped and a sadden look came upon her "Oh dear, I'm so sorry!" she apologizes

"It's okay! We're going to sell as much as we can and bring them home medicine so they'll feel better!" Hanako chimes in, giving a huge smile to the women while she pumps her fist to her chest.

Hiyoshi Aika, a seventy-nine-year-old widowed woman who lost her husband ten years back. She said it was to a demon, but nobody believed it. Well all but one did at least. His name is Old Man Saburo. In fact, he said almost the same thing which made Nezuko a little frightened when she first heard about it.

"Nezuko-chan, do your mom have that blanket ready? My daughter is getting fussy without it!" A woman in her early thirties rushes out of her home with a worried look.

Nezuko nods her head and looks down to Hanako, putting a hand on her back gently. The little girl walks forward and swings back and forth on her heels to her tippy toes

"Mhm, in fact, she was able to finish last night." Nezuko added.

Hanako takes off her bag from her shoulder and reaches in to pull out the black-colored fabric with floral designs. The woman gasps as her eyes sparkle with joy. She took it in her arms and hugs the little girl tightly "Oh thank you so much! Give her my thanks for me!" She thanks, pulling away to graze the fabric gently with her fingers. "It feels so soft!" Hanako giggles and hugs back when she has her chance.

"Of course we'll tell Mommy! I'm sure that she'll be pleased to hear that!" The little girl said. Nezuko couldn't help, but to smile until another voice caught her attention.

"Nezuko-san! I need a refill on charcoal!"a voice calls, and then another one "I do as well!"

Soon more and more townsfolk came around them, asking her to do tasks or for some refill on charcoal. This left the girls to immediately get to work, sticking by one another so they wouldn't lose another.

Back in the Kamado household, Kie in the bedroom rocking her youngest while he was sleeping. She was also sitting next to her husband who was laying down on the ground peacefully.

Suddenly when Tanjirou sat upright a little too fast for Kie's liking, she reached out carefully while she tried to not wake the little one.

"Honey no, you need to rest up...you're still looking pale like before...!" She told him in a hush tone.

The boy laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry Mom, I-I just *cough cough* need some water-"

"Then tell me next time." She sighs and shakes her head. The mother then stood up to her feet.

"Honestly son, you need to stop overworking yourself. I understand you don't want to be a bother, but asking for help by your mom isn't the worst thing in the world, okay?"

Hearing his Mom's nagging dialogue made Tanjirou laugh nervously again and lie back down.

The room became quiet at first, nothing being heard or spoken from either one of them. That silence was broken after a few minutes when Tanjurou opened his mouth to speak to his son.

"She's right in a way Tanjirou. It's okay to be and feel weak, but that doesn't mean you should still try to keep that independence."

"Yeah, I g-guess you're right."

"Of course I am. I may seem old, but the older you are, the wiser you'll become."

Tanjirou laughs weakly and turns his head to stare up at the ceiling when he laid back down. "I never said that you were old.!"

"That's true, but I never know if you're thinking it or not. So consider it your reminder." Tanjurou chuckles and takes a hand to turn through his hair.

Tanjurou was a good father to his children, but his bond is mostly with his oldest and youngest son. Tanjirou would be seen as his copy and paste of his father, both inside and out. The older man taught Tanjirou life lessons that'll help if times will ever get to that point. Their father-son bond was as strong as Tanjirou's bond with Nezuko. The two has almost the exact same personality as the other and think just about the same. They get sad, mad even happy the same way sometimes their mother wonder if they are twins.

Speaking of Kie Kamado, she walks back into the bedroom with a glass of water and a put it close to her son's lips "Just lean forward and drink slow sweetie..."

Tanjirou did what he was told without question and drank the cold beverage slowly, letting it hit his burning throat. Thankfully, it soothes his throat down enough to where his throat didn't feel scratchy. "Thanks Mom.." the boy said.

Kie nods her head, putting the glass down next to him so he could walk back to sitting next to her husband.

"Where are the boys?" Tanjurou asked his wife curiously. "Still outside chopping wood. They're in the shed doing it to keep warm. Even with Nezuko's help of getting the trees down, they still have a lot to do." Kie told, rubbing Tanjurou's head softly.

"Good, I was worried since they're been out there as long as the girls have been gone." He remarks

"They're okay darling. I'll give them some snacks so they won't be starved."

"Good."

"Thanks again Takahashi-kun!" Nezuko waves goodbye as she leaves the pharmacy shop. She steps outside with a bag in her left hand and Hanako's hand in the right. It was evening time and even though they didn't finish early, they made good money and earned some extra for helping out with errands. So now that they have the medicines, goodies, and food ingredients with them, they can travel home before the moon comes out.

"What do you think Mom will cook for dinner tonight, Nee-san?" Hanako asked to break silence on their walk toward the mountains. Nezuko only shrugs her shoulders "Wish I had a clue Hana. Either way, I'm sure it'll taste wonderful."

"I hope it's Tempura! I've been craving it for a month now!" Nezuko laughs to herself when she hears that. It's true. For the past month, Hanako has been whining and asking for that crispy food whenever she could. It didn't seem to annoy Kie or Tanjurou, but Takeo looked like if he had to hear it one more time, he would lose his absolute mind and bang his head against the wall. "I'm sure Mom will-"

"What the hell do you mean you don't have it?! I need my damn money!"

Nezuko stops her sentence when she hears a commotion from a couple houses to their right. The sound of anger and aggression made it seem like somebody was being harassed. Because of that fact, Nezuko marches her way over with Hanako's hand being clutched tighter. "Nee-san, what's going on over there?"

"We're about to find out." The girl snarled, though not directly at her sister. The girls held thanks tightly as they both picked up their speed to get closer to the situation faster.

When the two got close enough, they spotted a young lady in her early forties, her kimono being pulled by a man who was muscular built and at least a foot taller than her. "P-Please! I'll do anything else! I just don't have your money right now-"

"Is there a problem Tomoni-san?" Nezuko said coldly, making the two turn around to her confused. The man who was holding the poor girl furrowed his eyebrows and squinted his eyes to get a better view of the teenage girl who dared bothered him. "Eh? What the hell is your deal huh?" he growls, Nezuko glared at the man and gotten closer. Hanako on the other hand, hid behind her sister frightened. "Get. Away. From. Her. It's not nice to grab people when not given permission" Nezuko snarled

The man chuckles, dropping the girl to the ground and walking to Nezuko with heavy footsteps. Hanako held onto Nezuko's hand tighter, using two hands this time while the black-haired older sister stared up and held her ground. "Oh yeah? What are you going to do it little girl? Huh?" Nezuko glared up hard at the man as she kept her position. The man just let out a short laugh.

"Please Nezuko-chan, g-go back home okay? I don't want you to get involved." Tomoni begs

"It's fine Tomoni-san...I won't let him hurt you." The man once again rolls his eyes "Oh shut up, both of you." He then turns his full attention to Tomoni and glares down at her. "Listen, your time is up. If you can't pay up, I'll make you." He pauses, looking at her up and down. His lips then went up in a wicked smirk that spelled all kinds of trouble.

"I know just the way to make you pay off your late husband's debt. Your body will be put in good use in Yoshiwara. The men of the Famous Red Light District will loooooooove your body. And with a face like yours, I'm sure you'll get a lot of customers who love to ruin it." Nezuko and Tomoni gasp, both knowing exactly what he meant by that. Hanako looks at her sister confused when she hears their gasps.

"Nee-san?" The little girl asked curiously. Nezuko kneels down to Hanako and grabs the girl's wrist to move her hands to her ears.

"Keep your ears covered Hana.." she ordered then broke away from the other girl and stomped her way over to the man. "You can't do that to her! She has to look after her Mother!" The big man gave a look that said that he didn't give two shits. Hanako watches her sister with both amazed, yet scared eyes. Her sister was so brave, sometimes it almost led her to her death. The reason why is because sadly, this isn't the first time Nezuko got in a situation where it wasn't even about her. The only difference is that this time seems more serious than the last times.

The grown man then leans in close to Nezuko's face, darting an eye up and down at her body without shame. From the bun her hair was tied back in, to her zori shoes on the ground. Nezuko jumps back slightly, but the anger stays inside her heart "Then would you like to take her place? You seem to be extremely involved with her business when it has nothing to do with you." He offered with that same damn smirk from before.

Nezuko's heart drops and her throat feels like it's clogging up. So she gulps down her saliva and opens her mouth "I do not take lightly to bullies. Leave her alone." She spoke in a stern voice, even if she was terrified underneath. "Heh, you got some balls little girl...let's see if you can keep that until a man beats the shit into you so bad that you wouldn't be able to walk for the next day." The poor little girl that was her baby sister gasped and covered her mouth in disbelief of what she just heard. Even if she covered her ears again, she could never get that sentence out of her head, not at least right now. She couldn't believe someone could be so cruel and said such vulgar things to her sister like that. No sympathy, no hesitation, no stuttering. Just cold and cruel.

"N-N-No...no please don't! She's my older sister! She doesn't deserve such a thing!" She cries through her hand.

Tomoni herself was getting scared. She hates how kind and selfless this girl was. Nezuko was always there to help others who was in trouble or getting hurt. She never thought twice about her actions and never gave up without a fight. It doesn't matter to her how weak she was, she was willing to jump into any danger. Especially if it's somebody she either does or does not know. The women can't stand to let Nezuko get anymore involved in this situation, especially if losing her virginity, sanity, womanhood, and leaving her family was on the line. This has to stop right here and right now. So with a shaking body, she bows on the ground. "Pl...Please don't take her..!" She calls out dramatically, having all three of them give her their undivided attention.

"S-Sir...you want me instead right?! I haven't paid off my husband's debts like I should-" Nezuko was quick to interrupt Tomoni again, her chest heaving from nervousness and anger pumping through her veins. Forget everything else, Nezuko wasn't about to let Tomoni be away from her mother!

"She wouldn't be good to you!" She rebuttals, grabbing the man's arm harshly to have him look at her. "You need a young girl like me...I-I-I-I can do much more than she can.! I'm fifteen sure, but isn't that the best time for a girl to be ready for these kinds of things?!" Her voice, now more calm, started to have an effect on the male.

His eyebrows arched up in interest, giving Nezuko the signal to continue on. I'll give you your money in two months! Please, just please...just leave her alone for now. If I don't pay it off in time-."

'What the hell is she doing?!' Tomoni thought to herself. She pants heavily, stepping up to her feet.

"NO STOP PLEASE! NEZUKO DOESN'T KNOW ANY BETTER! SHE HAS MORE TIME TO GROW AND DEVELOP HER BODY!" Tomoni's screams to alarm her neighbors. It seems to work as the whole town leaves their shops and homes in concern. Hanako was looking around at everybody hearing the mumbles and whispers. 'What are they yelling for?' 'What's going on?' 'God, so loud!'

Hanako ran up to one of the people she knew and hugs their leg "M-My sister and Tomoni-nee-chan are in trouble b-by a big man..!" She sobs

Nezuko notices all the people and then her sister seeks comfort from a neighbor. The kinder, older man was rubbing the girl's head softly and trying to say things to calm her down. 'Hana...Oh god no..' she turned on her heel and completely ran to her sister until she was grabbed by the right wrist "Where do you think you're going? You said that you'll be able to do more than what that other bitch can do, right?"

'Crap! I need to get to Hanako. I didn't mean to scare her like this!' Nezuko pulls and pulls until the man releases her wrist to leave a bright red handprint on it. The young teen ran to her little sister with an arm out, dropping everything on her body. Hanako runs up to her and hugs her tightly. Hot tears streamed down both of their faces and a puff of hot air came out from both their mouths.

"D-Don't do it nee-san! I don't want you to leave Mommy, Daddy, the boys and I!" She pleads. Nezuko heard her voice loud and clear. She must admit that she doesn't want to do this either. In fact it pains her that she'd said all those things. But she felt desperate. Tomoni lost her husband while she was away for the night. A week after his death, she was told of the debt he was in. Apparently her husband had been a part of a gang and ran away when he met her. That explains why he always seemed so panicky whenever she saw him as a little girl. Another week after that, her mother came to live with her. Unfortunately the elderly women recently started to fall ill, making it harder and harder to earn money to pay for medication and get the debt off.

Nezuko heard of her struggles and hate that she had to deal with it. So even if it was a little bit, she wanted to help out. She wanted to lift that weight off her shoulder. So she turns around to face the man with worry hitting hard in her eyes.

"I'll go okay, I'll go! I need to return to my family one more time before my departure, so please...let me take her home and say goodbye to my family!" Nezuko pleaded

The man scoffs, pushing the girl down to the snowy ground with a thud and points a finger down at her as she lays there.

"Alrighty, fine. Listen little girl, I will be here late tomorrow morning. Be here or I'm coming to take you AND that bitch crying on the ground, got it!?" He scowls. Nezuko nods her head slowly and pushes herself off the ground slowly. "Yeah...I got it.."

The man chuckles to himself, walking away with harsh footsteps. Soon everybody hurries around to Nezuko to try and make sure that she's okay. Although, asking a million questions wasn't the way they should have done it. Tomoni rushes over to Nezuko and holds her up with her hand on her back and the other hand on her head. The tears couldn't stop falling from her eyes, at the unrealistic reality she was in. "I'm so sorry Tomoni-san, for letting get the chance to call you those things and hurt you-

"Why are so kind to everyone?!" The women cried. Nezuko looked up to the woman's baby blue eyes that were filled with tears. Tears that were filled with guilt.

"Huh?"

"Why are you so caring towards people? Always trying to make your life much harder than it already is?! Your family don't have a lot and you don't hold a bit of anger inside of you..not an ounce of jealousy, bitterness, or sadness...Tell me Nezuko, why do you care so much for others?!" She paused her speech to lower her head while the tears continued to fall nonstop.

Nezuko looks up to the women, getting a few tear drops on her cheeks. "Why...am I so caring to others?" She repeats to herself. She was stuck on that question if she was to be one-hundred percent honest. She doesn't understand herself why she was so kind to people. Yes, she was taught to treat others with respect, but her type of kindness to others was beyond what's expected. If you were starving, she gave you either most or all of her serving. If you are cold, she gives you her blanket and cuddles you to keep warm. If you needed help, she was always there to give a hand no matter the difficulty. Both her and Tanjirou were like this and it pains their family to see how selfless they were. Kie and Tanjurou share the fear of somebody taking their kindness for granted and they end up hurt in the end.

It was a hard thought to shake off now, so all she could answer was a "I don't know...myself...I always been this way.." She cant shake it off now. The level of her pure heart was too high, and it can both trouble and great things.

"Mom, they're back!" Shigeru calls for Kie from the front door. After the commotion in town, Tomoni-San sent the girls on their way with a warm cup of tea. Hanako fell asleep from her crying so Nezuko carried the child in the basket while she carried the bags in her hands. It was getting dark when they left and it took them a little over two hours to make their way back with Nezuko being lost in her head most of the way. When she returned to the front door, she couldn't bring herself to smile like she always does. Instead, she was consumed with pain and confusion.

Kie walks from the kitchen to greet her daughter, almost immediately recognized the long face her eldest made.

"Nezuko honey, what's the matter?" The women asks

The teen girl just shakes her head, she wasn't to speak yet. "Nothing, I'm just tired Mom.." Kie knew better when she heard that from any of her three eldest. "I know you're lying to me sweetheart...something is wrong and I can see it in your face."

Nezuko was about to open her mouth and rebuttal, but Kie put a finger up before she could.

"Before you say something like 'It's fine Mom, really.' Just know that I am your mother and I always know when something is bothering you. Your face, posture, tone, tempo are all off."

That puts an edge on Nezuko, and she looks up at her Mom fully while she sets the basket on her back down slowly. "H-How-"

"Moms gain that superpower after the first child. Now, are you able to tell me what's wrong or do you want to keep quiet about it for a while?" Kie wasn't trying to push her daughter into talking, she was just trying to make herself more familiar of her feelings and have others be aware so others won't be too affected if they never know if somethings not right.

Nezuko, Tanjirou and Takeo were all extremely stubborn and don't like to open up about their anger, sadness or just recently their confusion. Typical teenagers if Kie had to guess. They were all separated in age by a year at least, so that was both great yet scary. Nezuko turns away from her mother after a minute of staring and grabs Hanako to put her on her hip.

"I'll talk later Mom...I'm sorry I just can't say anything just yet." She mumbles, walking to the bedroom and sliding the door open.

Kie sighs and nods her head "I love you sweetie.."

"I love you too..." she turns around to her mom and smiles weakly. With that, the eldest daughter walks inside the bedroom door and closes it behind her quietly. Tanjirou turns his head slightly and smiles seeing his sister back safely. His nose scrunches a little when an unpleasant scent rubs on his nose. Usually to Tanjirou Nezuko smells of flowers, mochi and lavender. Now, she smells like salt and despair. Tanjurou was sleeping peacefully across the boy, so Nezuko set Hanako's futon next to him and laid her down so she could sleep more comfortably.

The girl curls into a ball underneath her blanket and grabs her father's haori sleeve. Nezuko smiles at the sight and walks to Tanjirou and reaches in the bag on the ground. Before she was able to pull out her brother's medicine, his hand grabs her arm firmly to make her give him her attention. He was carrying that face he makes whenever a bad scent hits his nose. 'Uh no..' she told herself.

"Can you tell me something, Nezuko? And be honest okay?"

The sister gulped, nodding her head afterwards nervously. "S-Sure?"

He sits up slowly, making Nezuko rush to pull her arm away from the medicine to wrap around his back and hold him still "Don't move too much..!" She worried in a hush tone.

"What's really bothering you? I heard you and Mom fussing, but I wasn't paying attention directly to what...you said you can't tell her," Tanjirou stops talking to start coughing, making Nezuko pat his back. "B-But I can't let you go without knowing if you're okay or what happened? P-Please, you have to tell me a-at least..."

Nezuko stares down at her brother, heart heavy. He always had a way to make her talk about her feelings, even when she didn't want to. His tone was always soft, weak, and full of hurt. It was what drives her insane sometimes. She bows her head down and grits her teeth together.

"Nezuko..please.." Tanjirou said as extra insurance, which seemed to do the trick.

"Dammit, fine...but only after everybody is asleep..." she whispers and puts a finger to her lips. Tanjiro smirks and put his finger to his lips as well

"Looking forward to it..." he replies

Chapter 1 END