Episode 1: Pain
when happiness is destroyed, its always followed by the smell of blood...
A young boy around 13 years of age carries his younger sister with urgency down a snowy mountain. His sister is covered in blood and seems injured. The young boy, Tanjiro Kamado, keeps moving even with the snow and the weight of his sister.
'I can't let her die! Nezuko, your older brother will save you!' Tanjiro thinks to himself. How simple were things just a day ago?
Yesterday
Tanjiro Kamado lifts up his charcoal basket. Since his father's death he's had to be the man of the house and help take care of his family even if it's as simple as selling charcoal to the people in his village down the mountain. Sure it's pretty difficult, it can get hard to breathe on such trips but Tanjiro must persevere, after all its for his family.
"Tanjiro your face is covered in soot, come over here." Tanjiro's mother, Kie Kamado, says as she starts wiping off his face with the gentleness only a mother could do.
"Brother! Can I come too?" Asks little Hanako Kamado, a young but feisty little girl that has made the reputation of having a little bit of a temper.
"I wanna go too! Can we please?" Asks Shigeru, the second youngest boy in the family and a rather timid child but could be very loud with people he was comfortable with.
Tanjiro smiles a little. "I'm sorry guys but you all have to stay here and help with the chores."
Several complaints were vocalized as Takeo, the second oldest Kamado boy, came over with the wood he'd been chopping. "Your leaving already? I thought we were gonna chop some wood together." Takeo says a little annoyed, Takeo could be a bit lazy and didn't like to admit how much he cared for his older brothers approval.
"Oh there there Takeo." Tanjiro pats his head as Takeo fumes.
"Hey stop that!" Takeo protests.
"Takeo your blushing." Teases Shigeru.
"Shut up brat!" Takeo yells out as everyone laughs.
"Okay enough, have a good day dear." Kie says as she smiles and starts leading her children to their chores.
"I'll see you all later!" Tanjiro says as he waves.
Everyone waves back as Tanjiro starts making his way down the mountain. As Tanjiro walks he passes by his sister Nezuko.
"Hey Tanjiro, goodluck today." Nezuko Kamdo, the eldest sister of the Kamado family says with a happy smile. Nezuko was known as the town beauty in their little village although any boy who got too cocky quickly figured out she had a powerful kick. Nezuko is holding little Rokuda Kamado on her back. Rokuda may only be 3 years old, but he is rather smart for a little child his age.
"Thank you Nezuko, I'm sorry you'll have to take care of Rokuda all by yourself..." Tanjiro replies feeling a little guilty.
"It's fine, really. Although if you end up staying late again because you refuse to say no I will be having some words with you." Nezuko says with the threat clearly meant to be interpreted.
Tanjiro sweats a little. "Alright, I'll try-" he catches the look in her eyes. "I WILL make it back before night fall." Tanjiro says hoping it satisfies his sister.
"Hmmm, you better keep that promise." Nezuko says as she walks towards their house still carrying a sleeping Rokuda.
Tanjiro looks back with a little smile, he truly loved his family. His greatest wish was to help them for as long as he could. He sighs a little as he makes his way down the mountain. Why did father have to die? Ever since their family has been struggling to get enough food or necessary things. He can't even count how many times Nezuko has had to patch her old kimono up because they couldn't afford to buy a new one.
'I will earn enough money to help my family have a happy life!' Tanjiro thinks to himself determined.
Although...if you asked Tanjiro just the next day, a part of him will have wished he never left that day...
At the village
Tanjiro enters his little village with a smile on his face. He was ready to sell some charcoal and earn a living for his family.
He began his trek through the town when a man came up to him.
"Tanjiro! I need your help! Please you gotta tell her it wasn't me!" The man begs as a woman with an angry face holds a broken vase.
"Oh of course sir!" Tanjiro says happily. He takes a big sniff of the vase and laughs.
"Miss it seems like a cat broke your vase not this young man." Tanjiro says gently.
"Hmmpp, whatever." The woman walks off as the man thanks Tanjiro for his help.
"Oh hey Tanjiro!" Greeted another gentleman. "Say could you help me with moving some stuff real quick?" The gentleman asks a little nervously.
"Of course sir!" Tanjiro rushes over to help. After the whole ordeal the man buys a few charcoal, not really needing it but wanting to pay the young man.
Tanjiro continued like this for the entire day, helping out anyone he could and everyone buying some charcoal from him. Tanjiro would always refuse free stuff so people would just buy his charcoal knowing that it's much less of a price then it would be for Tanjiro not helping them.
Tanjiro looks at the money in his hands. 'I have enough!' Tanjiro thinks to himself happily.
He heads down to miss Kamouri's shop and buys a brand new kimono for Nezuko.
Tanjiro sweats a little knowing how mad she'll be when he arrives so late but he hopes the present will be enough to quell her rage, or at least keep her from giving that dreaded pouty face.
Tanjiro begins his way up the mountain when he hears a voice. "Tanjiro!"
He looks over to see old man Saburo. He was known as the village hermit as he constantly would talk about the demons that killed his family. Even Tanjiro thought he was a bit crazy, after all demons don't exist, their just a story meant to scare little kids into doing chores and not staying out too late.
"What is it Saburo-san?" Tanjiro asks kindly. Maybe he's about to go into another rant about the demons that killed his brother and father.
"Tanjiro it's much too late, you should come and sleep in my home tonight." Saburo says with a worried tone.
"Saburo-san why should I stay? My home is just up the mountain, just a little while trek." Tanjiro knows he's downplaying how hard and long the trail between his house and the village is but still he was in no real danger. Bears and wolves were uncommon and everything else Tanjiro could take care of with his hard head.
"Because...there might be demons tonight." Saburo says with absolute certainty.
Tanjiro sighs a little. "I promise I'll be safe."
"No! Please Tanjiro, just stay for the night. It's safer inside and warmer too." Saburo protests.
"...okay." Tanjiro says with a sigh. "I'll stay with you for the night."
Saburo sighs in relief as Tanjiro walks inside.
'He's probably really lonely, I'll stay the night.' Tanjiro thinks to himself as he pulls up the futon. 'Nezuko is gonna be real mad, it'll be okay, it's just one night after all. What could happen?'
when happiness is destroyed, it's always followed by the smell of blood...*
The next morning
Tanjiro had given a goodbye to Saburo and was now heading up the mountain. He's a little nervous to see how mad Nezuko will be but he's sure she'll understand.
Tanjiro gets closer when he gets a feeling of dread deep inside a newly formed pit in his stomach. Primal instincts telling him that something horrible happened. Before he realizes what he's doing Tanjiro is sprinting and rushing as fast as he can when...he smells it...blood, the horrible burning smell of blood has filled the mountain.
Tanjiro sprints, no, he's fully running at this point, up the mountain until he sees it. His family home, it seems okay, he doesn't see any indication of a fight or attack, maybe he's overreacti-
Tanjiro stops as he sees Nezuko's bloody body on the ground. Covering a still Rokuda as the horrible smell of blood fills his body.
Tanjiro for a moment felt as if an entire lifetime went past him and yet he still couldn't move, still couldn't blink, still couldn't believe.
Then like a wave it all hits him.
"NEZUKO! ROKUDA!" Tanjiro rushes forward and grab the two in his arms. He cries as he feels Rokuda's cold body but Nezuko...Nezuko still has some warmth.
Tanjiro almost runs right there but first he has to check, he feels like he already knows but...
Tanjiro peers inside his house, the only home he'd ever known, to see the dead bodies of Takeo, Shigeru, Hanako, and his mother. Tanjiro feels tears run down his face but he can't bring himself to feel them. He walks in and feels for any sort of warmth or even a pulse...nothing.
'Nezuko is the only one who survived...what happened?! Was it a bear? No! Bears aren't nearly this precise, nevermind! Now is not the time to figure it out! Nezuko might still survive but only if I act now!' Tanjiro mentally screams to himself as he rushes out and grabs Nezuko's still somewhat warm body onto his back and he starts rushing down the mountain.
Snow starts falling heavily but Tanjiro can't even feel the cold right now. 'I can't let her die! Nezuko, your older brother will save you!' Tanjiro thinks to himself as he continues to rush down the mountain.
As he runs Tanjiro fails to notice the strange things happening, like the little growls coming from Nezuko's mouth, or the feeling of sharp nails digging into his shoulder.
Suddenly Tanjiro feels something pull him as he and Nezuko fall off the cliff. Tanjiro quickly uses himself as a shield to protect Nezuko as they fall down the cliff. If it wasn't for the snow he probably would have died on impact. Tanjiro falls unconscious as he hits the snow. 'Nezuko...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry.'
Everything went black...
After a few minutes as Tanjiro wakes up
Tanjiro opens his eyes to find himself in the snow. He wonders for a second what happened when everything comes rushing back. 'Nezuko!' He yells to himself as he gets up, ignoring the cold and wet feeling across his body.
Tanjiro looks for a second and sees Nezuko, standing there with blood all over her. She seems not fully there and she isn't lifting her head.
"Nezuko! Don't try to stand like that!" Tanjiro says as he runs over. "Don't push yourself at a time like this! I'll get you down-" Tanjiro stops as he hears growling. He looks for a second for a bear or wolf when he realizes where the growling is coming from, his own sister.
Nezuko growls as her teeth sharpen and her eyes narrow to slits. 'Hungry...HUNGRY!' Is the only things running through Nezuko's mind as she sees her brother in front of her, although right now, he's no different then a meal.
Nezuko lunges at Tanjiro where he barely reacts and uses his axe handle to hold her back from biting him. Nezuko starts increasing in size as drool starts coming from her mouth as she tries to pin down her prey.
"Nezuko! What's going on!? Nezuko!" Tanjiro yells as Nezuko tries to scratch him and end his life. 'The blood on her clothes...the look of horror that's on your face...Nezuko how much have you suffered? I'm sorry...' "Nezuko I'm so sorry! I should've been there! While I had a safe rest and a warm futon how much pain did you go through?! Nezuko! Please!" Tanjiro yells out as he cries to himself. He can't lose his sister, the only family he has left. As Tanjiro prepares to scream and yell he feels something, a wet drop. There's no rain, or anything of sort. Nezuko is crying as she tries to pin down Tanjiro, wondering what she's doing even and why she can't control her own body.
"Nezuko...please." Tanjiro whispers as Nezuko's grip loosens but then...Tanjiro barely sensed it in time, a fist. Going right for Nezuko.
DESTRUCTION BREATHING, 1ST FORM. CHAOTIC TYPE
Tanjiro grabs Nezuko and rolls her over, he feels the power of the fist redirect itself out of the way of hitting Tanjiro as he takes a deep breath.
"What are you doing? Protecting a demon like that?" Asks an unknown voice as Tanjiro looks up to see the ower of the powerful fist.
It's a man, with black hair and blue eyes. He has long eyelashes and a calculating look in his gaze. He's wearing a strange black uniform with part of it exposed for better movements and for intimidating those by letting them see his muscular build. He wears a strange black thing like thing for gloves on his hands, and the same strange stuff is on his feet like boots. The man has three blue lines on his forearms that if Tanjiro remembers correctly are marks used to signal a thief. Lastly the man has a kind of sash around his waist with intriguing patterns.
"Well?" The man's voice cuts through Tanjiro's thoughts as he realized he was spending a bit too much observing the man and not answering him.
"O-oh, well I don't know what your talking about sir! Nezuko isn't a demon! She's been a human her whole life!" Tanjiro yells out as he pulls Nezuko closer.
The man studies Tanjiro, as if trying to figure out a puzzle.
"What's your name boy?" The man asks coldly.
"T-Tanjiro! Tanjiro Kamado! I'm the son of Tanjuro and Kie Kamado! This is my sister Nezuko Kamado! Now who are you?" Tanjiro asks genuinely curious albeit a bit scared.
"My name is Hakuji Tatakai." Hakuji says with a glint in his eyes. "Now, answer my question. Why are you protecting that demon? Even if she's your sister it makes no sense to protect her."
"I don't even know what your talking about! My sister is a human! Always has been!" Tanjiro brings Nezuko closer although she's starting to struggle a bit.
Hakuji sighs as he realizes the boy is one of the few people who don't believe in demons. Even if the government doesn't accept the fact that they exist its still boggling how a person wouldn't know. Then again with this being a rather bare region and being around 40 years behind the times maybe more, it makes sense their wouldn't be many demons.
"Alright, look kid. I can forgive ignorance so I'll make this quick." Hakuji begins. "Demons exist, they are able to infect other humans by giving them their blood although as far as we can tell only upper moons and a few select demons have permission to turn a human and only if the human agrees to become a demon. The demon king, Muzan Kubutsuji, has the ability to turn any human as be pleases and is the most powerful demon ever to live. He's also probably the first one too. Now your sister here has been exposed to demon blood and is now a demon." Hakuji concludes.
Tanjiro looks in shock. He desperately wants to call this Hakuji man a liar and yet, his nose knows. Mr. Tatakai hasn't told a single lie.
"Now," Hakuji begins. "I'm a demon slayer, my job is to kill demons and help wipe them off the face of the planet. Your sister is a demon now, it's my job to end her." Hakuji cracks his neck as he raises his fist. Then Tanjiro realizes the weird black thing was metal, he's wearing metal gloves. As Hakuji clenches his fist the metal turns grayish blue. "Don't worry, I'll make it as painless as possible since "Nezuko" hasn't eaten anyone yet."
"But like you said Nezuko hasn't eaten anyone! I promise she never will! Nezuko would never hurt a human!" Tanjiro yells out as Nezuko struggles in his arms but Tanjiro has better control now.
"Oh really? Because to me it seemed like she was about to eat you before I stepped in. Face it kid, a demon would eat their own family if it meant getting stronger. If you have any other family that's dead it's probably because of her." Hakuji says bluntly.
Tanjiro eyes widen. 'Could...?' His dead families bodies appear in his mind but...'Nezuko was trying to protect Rokuda! And the scent, it didn't smell like Nezuko, maybe that's what the demon who actually did attack my family smells like!' "No way! Nezuko was trying to save my little brother! It doesn't matter anyway! I will turn my sister back into a human no matter what!" Tanjiro yells out passionately.
"Kid once a human is turned into a demon they can't change back, your making this harder then has to be." Hakuji says with narrowed eyes.
Before Tanjiro could protest he felt Nezuko leave his arms as Hakuji picked her up. Hakuji prepared to smash her head off with a single punch when he noticed a small object being thrown his way. He moves out of the way of a small rock. 'The hell?' He thinks to himself when he senses more rocks and figures it out, the boy is trying to defend his sister. Hakuji mentally sighs, he can't fully blame the little boy on trying to fight for his sister but it only makes his job more annoying.
Tanjiro throws another rock as he grips his axe. 'I won't let you kill Nezuko!' He yells to himself as he rushes toward Hakuji.
Hakuji spots Tanjiro, holding his axe behind him as he charges to defend his sister. Hakuji quickly just chops Tanjiro's neck and knocks him out. "Not bad kid, maybe I'll recommend a good teacher for you." Hakuji mutters to himself outloud. Maybe Rui would have a place for the boy? When suddenly Hakuji notices something. 'Where's his axe?' He wonders as he looks at Tanjiro's hands when he hears a "whoosh."
Hakuji barely dodges the axe sent his way as it lands with a loud "thunk" into the tree right next to his head.
'What? How did...oh.' Hakuji puts it together. The boy must have held his hands behind him in a way that made it seem like he was still holding his axe when he had actually thrown it. He was using the rocks as a way of getting me to lower my guard down and think he wasn't a threat, when he actually had a plan to take me down even if I knocked him out. Incredible.
Hakuji observes the boy for a moment longer wondering what kind of potential this "Tanjiro" could have if he had managed to do all that and plan it in a matter of seconds.
It's right then Hakuji realizes that...he forgot the girl!
Hakuji sees as the demon rushes toward her brother. 'Crap! I let myself get distracted and now this boy is going to pay the price!'
Hakuji prepares to try and kill the girl before she can do anything but...something happened, something Hakuji would have never bet. The girl stood in front of her brother and growled at Hakuji.
'She's...protecting him. There's no way! Maybe she's just trying to save her food? No, look at her injuries. She's starved beyond all belief. No newborn demon has the through process to think about saving food when their so starved...which means this is all instinct. The girl...Nezuko, her instinct is to protect her brother.' Hakuji realizes to himself as Nezuko continues to growl and pull Tanjiro behind her for better safety.
Hakuji remembers Tanjiro's words. *I Promise she will! Nezuko will never hurt a human! '...maybe.'
Nezuko prepares herself for Hakuji's attack but it's pointless as Hekuji rushes forward faster then ever her enhanced demon senses could predict and chops her neck, knocking her out cold.
Tanjiro feels himself...floating? What is going on? Tanjiro opens his eyes to see his family...His mother and father leaning together, Takeo holding Rokuda in arms, Hanako and Shigeru crying a little but trying to stay strong.
"Tanjiro," he hears his father voice say even though he hasn't moved. "I'm sorry, I wish we all could stay with you. But it's our time."
"Be strong my son." His mother says gently.
"Keep our sister safe." Takeo's voice rings out.
"We'll miss you!" Hanako and Shigeru's voices exclaim together.
"Big brother, stay safe." Pleads Rokuda.
Tanjiro feels tears stream down his face. 'I will...I will protect her' Tanjiro promises.
Tanjiro's family smiles, before they all disappear.
"NEZUKO!" Tanjiro yells out as his eyes open.
Tanjiro looks around and sees Hakuji standing there with curiosity in his eyes. Tanjiro rolls to his side and sees Nezuko is on the ground unconscious.
"Nezuko..." Tanjiro says with relief filling him.
"Your sister...she's different somehow." Hakuji says as he continues to stare at her.
"What do you mean?" Tanjiro asks confused.
"After your attempt at taking me down failed, good axe throw by the way, almost killed me if I didn't move." Tanjiro sweats a little feeling a little shy knowing the guy he just tried to kill is complimenting him on his attempt. "Your sister got out of my grasp and leapt at you...and yet she didn't even try to eat you. She growled at me and was there to protect you."
Tanjiro looks shocked for a second before confidence fills him. "Of course she wouldn't! Nezuko would never hurt me! I promise you!"
"Tanjiro...is your family special? Anything out of the ordinary?" Hakuji questions trying to understand why this demon wouldn't attack Tanjiro. Hakuji has seen demons eat their entire families alive if given the chance, yet this girl refused to give in.
"N-no sir, my family are just ordinary charcoal burners." Tanjiro answers honestly.
Hakuji takes another long look at the girl. "Tanjiro, do you genuinely believe you can turn her back into a human?"
"Yes," Tanjiro answers with no hesitation.
'This boy, he's not strong enough for destruction breathing but he seems like he would be a great fit for Kyojonro, perhaps he'll finally complete his wish.' Hakuji thinks to himself.
"Don't let your sister get touched by sunlight, it'll kill her." Begins Hakuji. "If you want to turn your sister back into a human, the best place to start would be joining the demon slayer corp."
"Really?" Tanjiro asks as he pulls Nezuko closer to him.
"Yes, since you'll be protecting a demon most people won't accept you, demons will try to kill you whenever they can, and the entire world may curse you and your sister just for trying. Are you sure you want that?" Hakuji asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Anything, for my sister. She's all the family I have left. I will protect her like a good older brother." Tanjro responds.
Hakuji nods. "Very well, I'll inform my trainer that he'll be having a new student.
"W-wait what?!" Tanjiro says surprised, he didn't think Mr. Tatakai would give in that easily.
"What? This is gamechanging right here. A demon that doesn't kill humans and even defends them. I'm not stupid enough to try and kill her when she could be way more useful alive. Right now though, you need training. The man who taught me, Kyojonro Rengoku, he will teach you everything you'll need to know."
Tanjiro quickly memorized the name as he picks up Nezuko. "Tatakai-san?"
"Yes?" Hakuji says.
"Before you take me there, can I please bury my family?" Tanjiro asks kindly.
"...Of course, I'll be waiting in the village." Hakuji answers with a little smile.
Before Tanjiro could even blink Hakuji disappears in an instant.
At the Kamado home
Tanjiro and the newly awakened Nezuko pray over their families graves.
"I'm sorry...I promise to turn Nezuko back into a human and to protect her with my life." Tanjiro says with eyes closed.
Nezuko just looks at the graves, they seem familiar, and she doesn't know why but tears run her face. She clings onto the kind boy with the scar on his face wanting comfort.
Tanjiro pulls Nezuko into the hug and strokes her hair, he notices the orange coloring now in her hair. 'I will save you Nezuko, I promise...'
End of episode 1
Taisho era secret!
Tanjiro: Hello its time for the Taisho Era secret!
Hakuji: WHERE THE HELL ARE WE?!
Tanjiro: be quiet! Now! Here's the Taisho Era secret! Hakuji actually doesn't use swords and instead uses nichirin gauntlets and boots for kicks and punchs!
Hakuji: HOW THE HELL DID YOU KNOW THAT?! WHO ARE YOU!?
Tanjiro: Also fun fact! Just one of Hakuji's gauntlets weighs 78 pounds and his boots together weigh 176!
Hakuji: Did you interrogate my smith?!
Tanjiro: Finally! Hakuji uses the breathing technique, destruction breathing! A breathing style that uses punchs and kicks instead if slashes! It's also said to be the hardest style to use because of the user needing to be strong enough to punch or kick a demons head off their neck!
Hakuji: That's it! You must be a spy! I'll end you right here!
Tanjiro: Okay! Now, next episode! "Master of the cursed flame"!
(Author's notes)
Hello, this is actually my first fanfic and I feel satisfied yet disappointed to be writing this. Basically the entire idea of this is how things would have changed if the demons we've grown to hate and sympathize for were the slayers and our hero's. And if the slayers were the awful demons. Some backstories will be tweaked just a bit to fit this new reality. BTW, for anime only people, 1. Hakuji is Akaza's official name as a human. 2. There will be spoilers for certain demons and their backstories and even a few hashria as I will try to keep the backstories for them the same just, you know with them becoming demons, so you've been warned. 3. For anyone reading this, thank you, I'm really happy you did and I hope you enjoy. I'll try to update at least once a month but I'll be trying for once a week. Final thing, there will be some headcannons here, not many, just a few things. Like how I gave Tanjiro's family some other traits so they felt a bit more real. I know demon slayer isn't a perfect anime but I hope I can fix the issues with it while also making this new story. Thank you for reading and I'll see you again hopefully soon.
