(A/N): Hey all to not make this book boring, I have decided to make these chapters short and focus purely on the concept of the book, think of each chapter as little trinkets; albeit the final word count should be around 50k to 60k. Thank you for your time enjoy.

"... A.. Iro."

As Tanjiro sleeps in the comfort of his futon; he could slightly hear the voice of someone calling him.

The smell was Nezuko; in her hand was a cup of tea; at this moment Tanjiro was half asleep literally; he didn't know how he was doing it as this weird skill of his come naturally.

But he could shut down half of his brain; every night he would switch between his right brain and left brain while asleep this way he could be asleep and be awake at the same time.

"T..a...iro."

"Tanjiro!"

His eyes open up; to meet the black hair beauty, dressed in a white Kimono; it was a gift he gave her, and it took him several months to even save enough to buy it.

Looking at her, Tanjiro felt guilty; Nezuko's tears full face couldn't escape his mind. He made his sister cry; why did he do that, why did he make Nezuko cry when all she was trying to do was help him?

Worthless!

.

.

.

Unforgivable!

.

.

.

Scum!

His self-hatred toward himself for making Nezuko cry like that was something he couldn't forgive himself for. In stress, in disappointment, in anger... He hit her.

"Big brother umm. I brought you some tea, here."

Tanjiro knew what he did wrong, but he still smile, if not for himself then for Nezuko sake, after all, to show weakness, and concern would only make her worry. But regardless of that, Tanjiro got up and took the cup of green tea from Nezuko as he said.

"Thanks a lot, Nezuko... But umm... I want to apologize for well you kno...

However, before Tanjiro even had the chance to apologize Nezuko returned the favor by slapping Tanjiro so hard that his head rotate a little.

But strangely enough, Nezuko soon hugged him in return, as she said.

"Why do you always apologize?"

Whispered Nezuko with her head down; her anger and concern could be heard and felt vividly. It was clear she was mad; after all who could blame her?

"Nezuko."

Tanjiro whispered; the slap he got was well deserved, albeit it didn't hurt him, but he still acknowledge it. Meanwhile, however, Nezuko looked at Tanjiro with tear-filled eyes again as she released her frustration on him.

"it's not your fault that Mom and Dad got sick, nor is it your responsibility to take the burden alone... I miss you brother; I miss your genuine smiles sometimes; I missed the time we spent together as a family even if there were times when we didn't eat, I miss the times when the old you would smile for the simplest of things, I miss that version of your lot. Brother, you are not a God, we are only human, and there is only so much we can do, so stop apologizing, please just understand me for once."

Announce Nezuko with a serious look on her face. Her heart breaks whenever she watches her brother trying to take on the burden of a parent.

She couldn't take it anymore, her beloved brother never gave himself time to heal.

He had to take a small loan from the village loan sharks to bury their mother, and even then he still owes a huge debt.

Day in and day out he cuts wood without rest, and without worry for himself, all for the sake of making charcoal to suffice for his family.

Every day he goes out to sell coal just to gain enough funds for her, Takeo, and Hanako, not coming back till late at night; and even when he comes back; he goes straight to work again. These past few weeks especially her beloved brother work as a slave.

It was because of this that she herself built up the determination to work as a courtesan if it means it could lessen her brother's burden.

Meanwhile, Tanjiro had a guilty face, however, that guilty face soon turned into one of a familiar smile she miss so much, Tanjiro didn't say anything afterward, he just open his arm for a hug and said.

"I'm sorry Nezuko, it's a force of habit, I can't help it. But you did give me the motivation and the wake-up call I need to try even harder, and for that im sorry as well, I will try to think about myself more often, I'm sure everything will be alright."

Nezuko knew this was the best she could do for Tanjiro at the moment; however, it was enough.

And like that Nezuko embrace Tanjiro as the two share a bit of their warmness, life wasn't perfect, nor was it fair, but as long as she had them, there was nothing that Tanjiro wouldn't sacrifice, family was everything after all.

He would try to do better, because that is all he could do, after all, he is only human.

To be continued.

Next Time: The Monarch Butterfly