It was a normal day for Takeo, waking up early, he got himself ready for the day. As the morning sun was out, he prepped the charcoal for Tanjiro, then putting them in a basket before putting it aside.
He then hear the door slide open, looking over, he saw Tanjiro.
"Takeo, you didn't have to do that, I could've done it myself," Takeo was going to protest. But Tanjiro continued on saying, "But, thank you for doing it, I appreciate it," This caused a smile to grace Takeo's face.
As the whole family said good bye to Tanjiro, as he went into town to sell the charcoal, Takeo stayed out. Chopping wood in the snow, he never told his family about it, but the cold never bothered him one bit. Even though the family worked with fire, he much preferred the cold than warmth, the only warmth he did like was his family's warmth.
As the day progressed, he looked at the sun, seeing as it was midday, but no sign of his brother Tanjiro. He stopped chopping wood, and set aside his axe, before going inside.
He then told his mother that it was midday, but Tanjiro wasn't back yet, his mother's only reaction was gentle smile. She then said," He might just be running late, or, having a hard time with selling the charcoal," Takeo's worry didn't waver though.
Seeing this, she motioned him to sit down, telling him that food was ready and to eat so his mind could calm down. Takeo complying, he sat down with the rest of his family, eating to take his mind off of worrying about his brother.
After they all finished eating, Takeo went outside, checking to see if Tanjiro was making it up the mountain, before noticing that the sun was setting. He hurried back inside, closing the door behind him, before telling his mother that Tanjiro wasn't here even when the sun was setting.
She looked worried now, only to remembered that Saburo lived down the mountain, thinking that he must've took shelter there because of the darkness of night. Saying so to Takeo, his worry faded a bit, when he heard a knock on the door. He rushed to open the door, reaching the door before sliding it open, only to realize that it wasn't Tanjiro. It was a black haired man, Takeo was going to ask who he was, when he was stabbed in the stomach.
As he blood gushed out of the wound, he was thrown to the back wall, Knocking him out. The man stared at the unmoving Takeo, before moving to the rest of the family, unknowingly leaving a regenerating Takeo behind.
Takeo's eyes flew open, looking at his surroundings, before seeing the bodies of his family members. Blood was everywhere, and as he looked outside, he saw a bloody Nezuko holding Rokuta. And as he looked at their bodies, an unbearable hunger took over him, his family looking more delicious by the second.
As saliva was escaping from his mouth, before his thoughts registered in his head, as he felt disgusted at himself for thinking such thoughts. Before he could process that his family was recently murdered, what the hell he became, he broke down in tears. And as his he remained in his pain, thoughts and visions of that man appeared, hatred followed them.
He stared soullessly at his family's corpses, his once bright eyes dimmed, as he stared at them he heard a scream. He looked over, recognizing the voice, as Tanjiro appeared in front of Nezuko and Rokuta. He then looked into the house, only to see a scared, and shivering Takeo.
"Takeo, what happened, are you okay!?" He slowly stood up, moving closer to the door.
Revealing Takeo's demonic appearance, Tanjiro looked shocked, before looking at Takeo's bloodied chest. Realizing that, what Sabuto said about demons were real, and that Takeo became one. As Takeo came closer, he saw Nezuko twitch a muscle, immediately rushing to her side.
"Ni-san, Nee-san just moved, she's still alive," Quickly getting out his stupor, Tanjiro and Takeo rushed towards town. Hoping a doctor to save her life, until Nezuko started swaying, and as they neared a cliff they all fell.
Landing on the snowy ground harshly, and as Tanjiro and Takeo got up, they saw Nezuko standing. Before leaping towards Tanjiro, Takeo leapt in front of him, as Nezuko attacked him. As they fought each other, tears gathered in Nezuko's eyes. As her tears fell onto his, he then saw a man with a katana in his hands, poised to strike at them. Tanjiro seeing this, shielded them, only for them to disappear from right under him.
Looking at the struggling Nezuko, and the slumped Takeo in the man's arms, he shouted, "No! Don't harm them, they're my siblings, they won't hurt anyone I promise, I'll find a way to turn them human again!" As he prostrated himself, pleading for their safety.
The man's inner thoughts were of pity for him, but with that meager resolve, he wouldn't survive to avenge his family. He then put on an angry front, saying, " Why are you groveling! I have no pity for someone who has no resolve to save his siblings from me! Not to mention the ridiculousness as finding out how to find a cure for them!" He dropped Takeo, brining his sword towards Nezuko.
Tanjiro, desperate to save his siblings, picked up his dropped axe. Running towards the man, throw a rock for distraction, as he threw his axe behind cover. Then continuing to run with his hands behind his back, he was easily knocked down, shocking the man as he had to dodge the flying axe.
As Takeo, and Nezuko saw the knocked out Tanjiro, they burst into action. Nezuko kicking the man away, while Takeo protecting the downed Tanjiro, Nezuko joining him. This made the man's eyes to widen in pleasant surprise, as both attacked at once, he thought that these siblings were different.
He witnessed many demons eat their siblings in front of him, but not those two, knocking them out. He then got them new clothes, putting them over the bloody ones, before sending a crow to his master. Telling him of the siblings that he encountered, and that he was sending them to be in his care, and that they may be key to that man's defeat.
He waited until they woke up, and as Tanjiro was the first awake, he told them that he was sending them to his master. Gave them a map before departing with a few words, saying that they should be careful of the sun, as demons burn from direct sunlight. Before leaving them to bury their dead.
As they said goodbye to their family, they set off to the location on the map the man who called himself Giyuu Tomioka, gave to them. The two brothers hoping to get stronger to get revenge, while the older one, hopes to get hints as to how to cure Takeo and Nezuko.