Tanjiro ran with Nezuko on his back, not daring to pause for even a moment. He feared that any delay might mean Nezuko would never wake up again.
"As long as Nezuko still has warmth in her body, your big brother won't give up on you."
"Nezuko, you have to hang in there. I'm going to save you. I swear I will."
"But... what the hell happened that night when I wasn't home?"
Tanjiro was filled with regret for not returning the night before. If he had been home, maybe they could've fought back against that unknown creature together, maybe his family could've survived.
"While I was sound asleep somewhere else... what kind of hopeless nightmare did you all go through?"
Ahead was the mountain path leading down. It was narrow, with no railings, and a sheer ten-meter drop off the side.
Tanjiro always tread carefully when passing through here, terrified of slipping and falling down the cliff.
Now, the snow made the path even more slippery than usual, and the howling wind blurred his vision. Under normal circumstances, he would be extra cautious.
But Tanjiro couldn't afford caution.
He couldn't slow down.
Nezuko was still waiting—waiting for a doctor to save her.
The long sprint had left Tanjiro utterly exhausted. His heart pounded wildly, his breathing ragged and sharp. Each breath of icy air stabbed into his lungs like steel needles, freezing and burning at once.
"No, I can't give in. No matter how much it hurts, no matter how hard this path is—I need to run faster."
"The town's still a long way off. I need to hurry."
"Nezuko, I won't let you die. I'll save you. I swear I will bring you back!"
But while Tanjiro was locked in a fight against his own physical limits, he didn't notice—Nezuko's limp hand had moved slightly.
The neatly trimmed nails he had carefully groomed for her were starting to grow rapidly. The tips were becoming sharp.
Unaware of anything, Tanjiro kept running, struggling with every step. But in less than a minute, Nezuko's movements grew stronger.
Suddenly, Tanjiro sensed something off from behind him.
He turned his head—and saw Nezuko, who had been unconscious, now sitting upright with a wobble.
"Nezuko!"
A flicker of hope lit up Tanjiro's face.
But before he could stop running, Nezuko let out a strange, guttural sound.
Then, she forced her mouth open, revealing two sharp fangs—and lunged at Tanjiro's neck with a vicious bite.
Tanjiro froze in shock.
The way she looked… she was just like the demons in those old stories…
He dodged in a panic.
But as he tried to move, his foot slipped on the snow. He lost balance—Nezuko and him both toppled off the edge of the mountain path.
Thud!
They hit the ground at the same time, a dull thump echoing through the night.
Tanjiro slowly came to. Disoriented and aching, he pulled himself upright. The snowstorm had left the ground thick with powder, cushioning his fall.
The heavy snow had saved his life, sparing him any major injuries.
But even so, every inch of his body screamed in pain. His head spun, vision blurred. It felt like every bone in his body had cracked.
Through the haze, Tanjiro looked up—and saw Nezuko standing.
Before he could react, she lunged—not for a hug, not like she used to.
No, this time she pounced like a predator, baring her fangs as she went straight for his throat.
She had lost all reason.
Tanjiro frantically pulled out the small axe he always carried, gripping both ends and thrusting it in front of himself.
Nezuko bit down hard on the wooden handle, pushing down with brutal force.
"Nezuko, it's me! I'm Tanjiro! What's going on with you?!"
Nezuko said nothing. Only deep, low growls came from her mouth. At the same time, her body seemed to have grown larger. The strength radiating from her was overwhelming—Tanjiro could barely resist it.
Even though he didn't want to admit it… deep down, he already knew the truth.
Nezuko had turned into a demon.
"Nezuko, I'm your brother… You still remember me, right?"
"I believe in you. Don't become a demon. Please, fight it!"
...
After a long struggle, two drops of water landed on Tanjiro's face.
They were tears.
Tears from Nezuko.
At some point, her face had become soaked with them. They streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto Tanjiro's face.
Finally, a flicker of clarity returned to Nezuko's eyes.
But right then, Tanjiro caught a flash of cold steel—and its target was Nezuko's neck.
Tanjiro let go of the axe.
From somewhere deep within, a burst of strength surged up. He pulled Nezuko into his arms, wrapped her tightly in his embrace, lowered his head, and shut his eyes.
The strike that had been aimed at Nezuko now veered toward Tanjiro.
The blade swept upward, fast as lightning, slicing off a chunk of Tanjiro's hair.
Nezuko had regained some sense. She no longer attacked. She only thrashed faintly in his arms.
Slowly, Tanjiro opened his eyes and looked up at the man standing in front of him.
Eyes cold, narrow, and sharp.
A half-red, half-green-yellow haori fluttering in the wind.
That was Tanjiro's first impression of Giyu Tomioka.
Then, he noticed the blade in the man's hand.
He was armed.
This man was dangerous.
"Why… are you protecting a demon? Aren't you afraid of demons?"
Tanjiro held Nezuko tighter, his voice loud and firm.
"I'm not afraid! What are you trying to do? I won't let you hurt my sister!"
Giyu Tomioka fell silent for a moment, then asked quietly, "That's your sister?"
He could clearly see that Tanjiro's whole body was shaking.
He was terrified.
A barely audible sigh escaped Giyu's lips. He slowly raised his Nichirin Blade.
Then, in a flash, he lunged at Nezuko.
Tanjiro hurriedly tried to shield her—but suddenly realized that his arms were empty.
He looked up.
Nezuko had been restrained.
Giyu held her with one hand, her arm twisted behind her back. No matter how much she struggled and groaned in pain, he didn't budge an inch.
His voice was calm and merciless.
"My job is to slay demons. Your sister is a demon. So I must kill her."
Tanjiro scrambled to his feet, panicked and pleading.
"No! Nezuko might be a demon now, but she's never eaten anyone!"
"There was another scent at my house—savage, chaotic..."
"Someone else killed them. Someone else turned Nezuko into this."
"That's the one who should be killed! Nezuko is innocent!"
Giyu's grip on the Nichirin Blade tightened. He raised it slowly.
"But she's still a demon."
Tears streamed down Tanjiro's face. He couldn't let this man kill Nezuko.
He couldn't lose her either.
"No! I'll save her. I'll turn her back into a human!"
Turn her back?
Giyu shook his head.
"Impossible. A demon is a demon. They can't become human again."
The blade inched closer to Nezuko's neck.
No! He couldn't let it happen!
Tanjiro shouted, "Then I'll search! Even if there's no way now, I'll never stop searching! I'll find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human!"
But Giyu no longer responded.
His eyes were cold.
His resolve to slay demons was absolute.
The edge of the Nichirin Blade gleamed, only a breath away from Nezuko's neck...
(End of Chapter)
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