Tanjiro dashed forward with Nezuko on his back, not daring to pause even for a second. He feared that any delay might mean she would never wake up again.
"As long as you're still warm, Nezuko, I won't give up on you."
"Hang in there, Nezuko. I swear I'll save you."
"But what exactly happened that night when I wasn't home?"
Tanjiro deeply regretted not being there. If he had been, maybe he could have fought alongside them, maybe he could have protected his family from that unknown creature.
"While I was fast asleep, what kind of despair did you all go through…?"
Up ahead was the mountain path leading down. It was narrow and unguarded, with a sheer ten-meter cliff on one side.
Tanjiro normally walked this path with great caution, worried he might slip and fall off the edge.
Now, the snow made the path even more slippery, and the howling wind and flurries blurred his vision. He should've been even more careful.
But he couldn't slow down. Nezuko still needed a doctor.
After running for so long, Tanjiro was utterly exhausted. His heart pounded, his breathing was ragged, and freezing air scoured his lungs like a thousand needles stabbing into him.
"No… no matter how much it hurts, or how hard the road is, I have to run faster. The town's still a ways off. I can't waste any time."
"Nezuko, I won't let you die. I'll save you. I swear I will!"
But in his single-minded struggle against his body's limits, Tanjiro failed to notice that Nezuko's limp hand had twitched.
Her neatly trimmed, rounded nails were beginning to grow, the tips sharpening into points.
Tanjiro continued his painful sprint, unaware, but within seconds, Nezuko's movements became more pronounced.
Suddenly, Tanjiro sensed something was off with her.
He turned his head and saw Nezuko, who had been unconscious, slowly sitting upright, swaying slightly.
"Nezuko!"
His face lit up with hope, but before he could stop, a low growl escaped her mouth.
She opened her lips wide, baring sharp fangs, and lunged at Tanjiro with a feral bite.
Tanjiro's heart skipped a beat. Nezuko—she looked just like one of those demons from the stories...
Panicking, he dodged.
But in doing so, he slipped on the icy path and lost his balance. He and Nezuko tumbled over the edge of the mountain trail.
Thud.
They hit the ground together with a heavy impact.
Some time later, Tanjiro groggily pulled himself up. The thick snowfall had created a soft cushion where they landed, sparing him from serious injuries.
Even so, his whole body ached. He was dizzy and dazed, as if every bone in his body had been shattered.
Through the haze, he looked up—and saw Nezuko standing.
Before he could react, she lunged again—but this time, not for a hug like she used to. She tackled Tanjiro to the ground, mouth wide, fangs aimed for his throat.
Nezuko had lost her mind.
Tanjiro quickly drew the hatchet he carried and held it across his body with both hands.
Nezuko bit down hard on the wooden handle, pressing down with terrifying force.
"Nezuko! It's me, Tanjiro! What's happening to you?!"
She said nothing—only growled low and deep. At the same time, her body seemed to grow larger, her strength increasing until Tanjiro struggled to hold her back.
Even if he didn't want to believe it, Tanjiro could no longer deny it: Nezuko had turned into a demon.
"Nezuko, I'm your brother! You still remember me, right?"
"I believe in you! Don't give in! Don't become a demon!"
.........
After a long struggle, two drops of water fell onto Tanjiro's face—Nezuko's tears.
Somehow, she was crying. Tears streamed down her face and landed on Tanjiro's cheeks.
At last, a sliver of reason returned to her.
But just then, Tanjiro caught a glint of cold steel—a flash of light aimed straight at Nezuko's neck.
Letting go of the axe, he found strength from somewhere deep inside and pulled Nezuko close, shutting his eyes and holding her tight.
The blade that was meant for Nezuko was redirected toward Tanjiro. The upward slash cut a handful of his hair.
Nezuko had regained partial control and stopped attacking, though she still squirmed in his arms.
Tanjiro slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the person standing before him.
A pair of cold, narrow eyes, and a haori split down the middle—half red, half a mix of green, yellow, and orange.
That was Tanjiro's first impression of Giyuu Tomioka.
Then, he saw the sword in Giyuu's hand. A sword…? This man had to be incredibly dangerous.
"Why? Why are you protecting a demon? Aren't you afraid of them?"
Tanjiro clutched Nezuko tightly and shouted, "I'm not afraid! What are you trying to do? I won't let you hurt my sister!"
Giyuu was silent for a moment, then asked softly, "Is that your sister?"
He could see clearly—Tanjiro was trembling all over. He was clearly terrified…
Letting out the faintest sigh, Giyuu raised his Nichirin Blade and vanished in a blur, lunging at Nezuko.
Tanjiro tried to shield her with his body, but found his arms empty.
Looking up, he saw Giyuu had pinned Nezuko's arm behind her back with one hand, immobilizing her. She struggled violently, but Giyuu didn't budge an inch.
His voice was calm and flat: "My job is to kill demons. Your sister is a demon. So I will kill her."
Tanjiro scrambled to his feet and pleaded, "No! Even if she's turned into a demon, she's never eaten a human!"
"There was still a scent in my home… savage, chaotic..."
"Someone else did this. Someone else killed my family and turned Nezuko into this."
"He's the one you should be killing! Nezuko is innocent!"
Giyuu's grip tightened as he slowly raised his sword again.
"But she is still a demon."
Tears streamed down Tanjiro's face. He was terrified this man might kill Nezuko then and there.
He couldn't lose her.
"No! I'll save her. I'll turn Nezuko back into a human!"
Back into a human…? Giyuu shook his head. "Impossible. A demon is a demon. They can't become human again."
Still, his sword crept closer to Nezuko's neck.
No. He couldn't let this happen.
Tanjiro shouted, "Then I'll search! Even if there's no way now, I'll find one. I'll keep searching until I find a way to turn her back!"
But Giyuu didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed, his resolve unshaken. His blade—mere inches from Nezuko's throat—gleamed in the snowlight…
(End of Chapter)
💬 Author's Note:Big thanks to [Eduardo_Andre_7788] for the Power Stone! Your support means the world and keeps this story alive. 💪🔥More chapters are coming your way — stay tuned!