Chapter 1: Despair
TANJIRO KAMADO
I can’t remember it that well. It was quite a few years back. My memories are pretty fuzzy. That day father asked that if one day a ferocious demon attacked me and my family what would i do.
His face-no his entire demeanor was so serious, if not for the fact that many stories of demons are used to scare children to sleep, i would probably have believed him. When i told him he would protect us he gave me a sad smile? Was it a self-deprecating smile? I don’t know.
Before i could say anything more, mother called me from the kitchen; probably to carry some water for her. When i was on my walking away from the room;with my back towards father i heard him murmur “You should run ,then”. Because mother asked me again i dismissed it then thinking i was hearing wrong.
But thinking back to that moment isn’t that what he said? When it actually happened my first thought went back to that moment, even while i can’t remember it clearly. My thoughts turned frantic. Why did something like this even happen?WHY??WHY?
I couldn’t understand-no i didn’t want to understand;just wanted to escape reality When I saw nezuko lying down with blood around her, when i saw mother lying there with gaping hole in her stomach, others lying there with similar wounds. Everyone, my family, in front of me lying there motionless with blood spread across them. Even without checking their pulse i knew that they were dead.
Yet i clinged to the the thought that perhaps I was wrong. When even that small hope escaped my grasp i could hold, the dam of my emotions came burst open.
Even when i was being recoiled my by emotions my sense of smell which, by far surpassed everyone i knew, found another person’s smell
Who was it? Is it the murdurer? No...perhaps this is that uncle saburo was talking about? Demon? No, it has to be a demon won’t it?
I could someone footstep near the door side. I moved my heavy neck towards the corner of the house. Around 15 meters, there i saw a person with long sharp nails and similar looking teethes with blood dripping form them. I could clearly imagine how he must have killed them.
Was it with a ferocious expression he was looking at me? HOW DARE HE?!
I could feel the blood in my boiling. An anger, which i have never felt in my entire life, is telling me to cut this creature heads.
“HOW DARE YOU KILL MY FAMILY?!” I shouted in rage with my bloodshot eyes towards that demon. He didn’t reply. I wonder if that creature can even talk or communicate.
I just wanted to see this creature fell the same pain, and wanted to kill it. But i knew voilently and emotionally running towards him would only be suicidal. I needed a weapon; i was lucky enough to have my ax with me.So i grasped my ax tightly. Tight enough by which there probably were marks in my hands but there was no time for me to care for that.
Before he could approach me i threw a rock towards his face which i picked up when i first saw him. The rocks hit him yet with no damage whatsoever. I started running to his right, with my thought of hitting him with the ax i was holding, while he was distracted by the rocks.
He didn’t move as if no matter what i tried i couldn’t harm him. That thought made me even more furious. I neared towards his left but the moment i raised my arm to throw the ax i saw a blur. It was the demon... He was in front of me within a few moments. He was infront of me with his hand nearing my neck.I didn’t have time to respond
That’s how you killed Nezuko didn’t you, huh? It must have hurt. You, nezuko, probably wanted my help. But i was just sleeping peacefully in uncle saburo’s house .Aghhh...I felt regret once again.
“You monster...” I once again shouted. I can do it. I can kill this creature. For me and for my family’s peace!
When the demon’s hand was almost near my neck, I barely moved my body rightside, causing his nails to dig deep inside my shoulder.
“Agh...move dammit. I said move!” A painful grunt of a voice came out of my mouth along with multitude of curses.
The small amount of time frame that i got my somehow deflecting his attack, I stroke him with the ax i was holding with my right hand. Even with almost all my strengh i couldn’t cut of his head. It just went one-third of it. So I took back my arm and striked again. This time half way through his neck
Before i could deliver my third strike he kicked me on my stomach, making me fall down to my knees and clutching my stomach with my hands.
“AGhh...” Another groan escaped my mouth.
A small pain assaulted my eyes, because of the sunlight that fell to my eyes. Rubbing my eyes with my hand, I turned towards the demon only to see him turn into ash while holding his neck with one hand. I could feel a smile on my face. huh? Am i feeling better now that the demon has perished? And everyone always called me kind.
“HAHAHAHHAH....” An unknown form of laughter came out my mouth. I myself couldn’t recognize it.
Drops of tears started falling to the snow below me. “Takaeo, hanako, shigeru, rokuta,nezuko....mother” Each and single one of their name came out from my mouth.
