In the next morning
Tanjiro: excuse me. Would it be ok if I take that basket, straw and some bamboo.
man: sure, your welcome to take it, that basket is full of holes.
Tanjiro: then I'll pay you for it.
man: no, that quite alright. I mean, it's a basket full of holes.
Tanjiro: I still paying you anyway.
man: no, don't worry about it. You can have the bamboo and straw for free, too.
Tanjiro: I'm still paying you.
man: I said it's fine! You're one stubborn kid!
Tanjiro put the coin on the man hand, hard. As he feels the pain from the coin.
Tanjiro: please accept this, even if it may not be much! Thank you very much.
as Tanjiro ran while carrying the materiel.
In the cave
Tanjiro: huh? Nezuko? She's gone!
this worried him as he saw something pop up on the hole.
Tanjiro: oh, there she is! D-di-did she dug a hole? I can't believe my little sister turned into a mole!
Nezuko face is scrunched up.
Tanjiro thought: and she's got a giant frown of her face, she's really doesn't want to come near the sunlight, huh?
Tanjiro: hold on for just a second, okay.
he quickly use the bamboo and straw that he just bought to repair the broken basket. When he finished, he walk into the cave with the basket and started to say to her.
Tanjiro: hey, Nezuko? Can you fit inside? I want to keep moving during the day as well. So I'll carry you in here.
She look at him speechlessly as it's getting a little awkward.
Tanjiro: inside, can you fit inside the basket?
She begin to get out of the hole a go into the basket but she is too big to fit in the basket.
Tanjiro thought: not a perfect fit, Nezuko's really grown into a big girl. It feels like yesterday that she was a little girl.
Tanjiro: hmm? Hey nezuko. Remember how your body got bigger before? Do you think you can do the opposite and get smaller?
he pat her back while saying.
Tanjiro: become smaller! Smaller!
Suddenly she push the basket up with her body trying to get in and shrinks her size.
Tanjiro: wow, good girl. That's a good girl. I'm impressed! "Patting her head.
when he covered the basket with a white sheet. When he finish covering it. he look at the katana on the ground next to the walls.
Tanjiro thought : my fathers sword. He told me once that this sword had passed down to our family, just like the Hanafuda earring. I don't want to leave it behind. It's to important for my family and my ancestors.
He pick up the katana and unsheathe it, revealing a crimson red color blade as he lifted up.
Tanjiro: I wonder, why is it so red?
noon
Lady: if you want to get to Mt.Sagiri, you'll have to cross that mountain, but... the sun is already setting. Are you really heading there with all that luggage and that katana of yours? It's to dangerous.
Tanjiro: you don't have to worry, I'll be careful and this katana is not for show. I'm sorry I scared you. This Katana had past down to our family since and I don't want to leave it behind.
he bow down
Tanjiro: and thank you very much.
Lady: be careful young man. People have been missing as of late! Make sure you don't get lost.
Tanjiro wave at the lady as he left.
night
Tanjiro cross the mountain while carrying Nezuko. It was dark now. He put down the basket and let her get out of the basket. He grab her hand and put the katana on his left hip. As they continued walking. On the way, he saw a temple.
Tanjiro: there's a temple here. The light are on, so someone might be around. Let's check it out.
but suddenly he smell blood.
Tanjiro: the smell of blood. This mountain path is pretty rough! Someone's probably hurt!
they run to the stairs of the temple as Tanjiro quickly kick the door.
Tanjiro: are you okay!
he froze for a moment when he saw a man-eating demon eating people in the temple
Demon: what the hell? This is my turf. If you set foot in my territory, you're gonna regret it!
Tanjiro thought:shock* it's a man-eating demon!
behind him Nezuko is drooling as she look at the dead body.
Demon: huh? You give off a strange vibe. Are you two humans?
the light went out as suddenly the Demon pound toward him and push me outside the temple. Tanjiro quickly grab his axe from his axe sheat and slice the demon's chin. The demon stop and stand there for a while.
Demon: An axe?! Ha! Ha! HA! Not bad! But a scratch like this. Will heal in no time, see that? The bleeding stop already. My! My! Why are you so in shock. Why aren't you using your katanaof yours are you a demon slayer. My! This is my lucky day is it.
in the temple Nezuko still frozen as she still look at the dead body drooling.
Outside of the temple, Tanjiro grip his axe as he face the demon. But he disappeared as he grab Tanjiro neck.
Tanjiro: he's fast! And he's got tremendous strength!
Demon: you won't fool me twice demon slayer. You already lost, you have your chance to slay me with your sword of yours. Now then, is time to break your neck.
as Tanjiro is struggling from the demon grip as he feel the pain as he scream. Nezuko heard this as she ran toward the demon as she kick his head.
Tanjiro: eh!
he was shock as the body fell. He stood up as he look at his sister.
Tanjiro thought: sh-she killed him! But wait, he's a demon! So it's fine, right?
Tanjiro: N-Nezuko!
he was stop as Nezuko kick the moving body behind him.
Tanjiro thought: shock* you've go to be kidding me right now, did his body just move without his head?
Demon: you bitch! So one of you was a demon! No wonder you seemed off. Why the hell is a demon and a demon slayer together?
Tanjiro thought: h-hi-hi head can actually talk?
the demon body started moving as it charge toward Nezuko. She is struggling to face the body as ever punches hit toward her.
Tanjiro: stop!
he unsheathe his katana as he went toward the body. But he was interrupted as the head with arms went charging toward him. He saw this as he pick up the axe and blocked it making the head bite the top part of the axe.
Tanjiro: tch! Nezuko!
Nezuko was struggling as the body keep punching and kicking her. Until she was grab as she was thrown. Tanjiro is also is struggling as the head is holding his shoulder.
Tanjiro thought: what's up with this guy? Why the hell is he growing arms from his head? I'm have to save Nezuko.
Tanjiro: tch! Out of my way!
he headbutted the head making it let go of the axe as he feels the pain.
Demon: this guy's head is hard. His head is.
Tanjiro grab the head arms as he headbutted the head again.
demon: crazy.
Tanjiro grab his axe as he threw the head and pinned it to the tree.
Tanjiro: yosh.
demon: my hair got all tangled up while I was wrapping it around this axe! Damn!
Tanjiro ran as fast as he can to find Nezuko.
Tanjiro: Nezuko! Where are you?
when he ran, he found her scent as he ran and saw Nezuko is struggling. He saw this as he unsheathe his sword and threw it at the body as the body fell to the cliff Tanjiro ran as fast as he can to grab the sword from the body chest as he is about to fall. But was grab by Nezuko as she lifted him up.
back at the table Tanjiro grip his Katana as he slowly went to the head. He take a slow breath as he look at the head, as Nezuko is watching him.
Tanjiro thought: I wonder if there's a lot of demon out there,. But this isn't the scene I pick up back home, he's unrelated. But... if I don't finish him, he'll end up killing people again. So, I have to do it. Damn it, just do it.
he pull his sword up in the air as his is about to kill it. But he was stop by a hand on his shoulder as he slowly look behind him.
Behind him was a old man with tengu mask and a blue water haori as. He slowly calm Tanjiro down.
tengu mask: you won't be able to finish him off like that.
Tanjiro thought: A tengu mask! I didn't hear his footsteps!
Tanjiro: h-how can I finish him off?
Tengu mask: do not rely on someone else! Can't use your own head?
Tanjiro thought: is stabbing doesn't word. Then crushing his head is my last resort.
he sheathe his sword as he grab a rock as he slowly went toward the head.
Tanjiro thought: to break through his skull and smash his head up, I'll have to strike him multiple time, it'll be a painful death. Isn't there anything I can use to kill him with one blow?
Tengu mask though: he didn't use his sword. Does he not realize it by now. I see so his sympathy is keeping him from making a clear decision. He's facing a demon. Yet the scene of kindness remains. His empathy extends event to a demon. Giyuu, this kid won't make it. He didn't realize his sword is a nichirin.
on then on the demon woke up
demon thought: I blocked out. Is my body dead. Then? I feel sick!
he look at Tanjiro as he is full of rage toward him.
demon: you brate, I'll kill you! I'll fucking eat your guts. I can't go to you, so come to me!
Tanjiro thought: I faltered too long, the sun is already rising.
when the sun rises the demon was burning in agony as he fad away.
Tanjiro thought: he's gone with that much sun light?! No wonder Nezuko shrink away from it!
when he look around he saw Nezuko and tengu mask man had already gone.
Tanjiro: Nezuko! Nezuko!
when he look around he realize something as he went back to the temple. When he get there he saw Nezuko is already at the basket as the sheets is covering her. This made him feel relieved.
Tanjiro: Nezuko! Huh! Don't scared me like that. O-oh, that's right. What about that man?
he went to look for the man as he turned to the other side.
Tanjiro thought: he buried the people who got killed.
He slowly walk toward the man.
Tanjiro: um! Excuse me.
the man stood us up as he finished praying.
tengu mask: my name is Urokodaki Sakonji. I soppose your the one Tomioka Giyu sent my way, correct.
Tanjiro: uh! Yes! My name is Kamado Tanjiro! My sister's name is Nezuko, and.
Urokodaki: Tanjiro... what will you do if you sister devours a human?
this confuse him as the mask man slowly walk toward him as he slap him.
Urokodaki: your to indecisive! You're simply to slow at making tough decisions. You couldn't finish off that demon with your sword before daybreak. Do you know why you couldn't answer my question right away? It's because your resolve is to weak. There are only two things you can do if your sister devours a human. Kill your self! Then cut your own stomach and die! That's what it means to continue staying by your demon sister side. Commit to memory that such a thing should never occur, no matter the circumstance. Your sister taking the life of an innocent person is the one thing that never come to past. Do not understand what I'm saying?
Tanjiro: yes sir!
Urokodaki: I'm going to test you to see if you're fit to become a demon slayer. But first, give me your katana, it seems your not ready for it yet. You don't have to worry I'll give it back if your qualify to become a demon slayer.
Tanjiro nod as he give his family treasure to Urokodaki.
Urokodaki: now get your sister ready and follow me.
few hours later
Tanjiro and Urokodaki started to run to get to Mt.Sagiri.
Tanjiro thought: he's fast! Just how old is this man? And still can't hear his footsteps! Nezuko, I know you're probably uncomfortable in there, but please bear with it a little longer. You've always had to bear with everything.
flashbacks
Nezuko, all your life.
Tanjiro: you're fixing your kimono again? You know I can buy you a new one?
Nezuko: no. No, it's all right! This kimono was my favorite! I'd rather have the younger kids get more food to fill them up!
flashback end
Tanjiro thought: I swear I'll turn you back into a human and end this cycle of hate forever! I swear I'll buy you a beautiful kimono someday! Everything that I couldn't do for the others. I'll do all for you!
outside of Urokodaki home
Tanjiro was taking a deep tired breath as he crouched down.
Tanjiro: n-now have I... passed the test?
Urokodoki open the door of his house as he take off his scarf on his head.
urokodoki: the test begins now. We're going to the climb up the mountain.
Inside of Urokodoki house Tanjiro lay Nezuko on the in the wood plink as he look at her.
urokodoki: I'll make sure to take care of your sister in the meantime.
Tanjiro: I'll leave her in your care then.
in the mountain at night
Tanjiro thought: my legs are starting to feel numb. I'm feeling dizzy, too.
Urokodoki: we here, now find your way back to the house at the bottom of the mountain. This time I'm not going to wait until daybreak.
He disappeared as the fog came out of nowhere leaving Tanjiro behind.
Tanjiro: eh! Is that it! I see. He think I might get lost in this thick fog. I just have to get back by dawn, right? That's a piece of cake! I've got a great sense of smell! I've already memorized Urokodaki's scent!
he ran as fast as he can until he felt a string on his knee. He look down and saw a rope tie between two trees. Suddenly rocks are thrown to his side and hit his face and body.
Tanjiro: rocks?!
he fall down and fall into a covered pit. He suddenly realizes something.
Tanjiro: I see. There are traps, Huh. So that's what this is about.
He climb up the pit and felt a tin line on his palm. Suddenly a log tied on rope swings toward his back and hit his back.
Tanjiro: if I keep getting caught in traps, I won't make it back by dawn! And besides, this mountain... this mountain is. The air's really this here! It's way thinner than on the mountain back home. So that why I've been gasping for air and feels so light-headed. Will I make it back in time? I might pass out. No! I'll make it back. Get your breathing and energy under control and sniff out each of those trap!
Suddenly he feel the blue energy as he reopen his eyes. He run as every trap that came to him as he dodge every trap.
Tanjiro: I've got it! I finally get it! Human traps have a slightly different smell after all!
He ran until a bamboo trap lifted him up as he went flying. Hitting him toward the ground.
Tanjiro: but that doesn't mean that I'm suddenly athletic enough to dodge every single one of them! I'll make it back to you no matter what! Nezuko!
in the house Urokodoki put a blanket on Nezuko as she is fallen asleep. Until he hear a door open.
Tanjiro: I have... returned.
urokodaki look at the unconscious boy. Until a flash back came to him.
flashback
dear Urokodaki Sakonji. Please do forgive me for my briskness, I'm sending a boy on your way who wants to become a demon slayer. He was brazen enough to attack me unarmed. His family was slaughtered by a demon, and the surviving younger sister has turned into one. However, I have determined that she will not harm any humans. I can sense something special about these two. They both have amount of chakra just like me but they do not fully mastered it completely yet. Like yourself, the boy appears to have a keen sense of smell. Perhaps he's fine a way to break through and become your successor. Please take him on as your apprentice. I realize that this is a self-serving request, but please bear with me. I hope that you will take good care in your endeavors. Yours truly Tomioka Giyuu.
flashback end
Urokodaki: Kamado Tanjiro, I accept you as my student.
end