Ruby Tears (Inotan)

Prologue

Tanjiro could recall the first time he was old enough to understand the red moon was evil. His mother ran rapidly around their home, Nezuko asleep on her back, hanging wisteria at every entrance into the house down to the smallest of windows, lighting candles and incense of the same flower. At the time he didn't understand why, only they were pretty and smelled good, so he started reaching his chubby hand to pull a purple flower from its perch. Kie grabbed his arm in a fierce grip " TANJIRO NO!" she yelled, her normally kind face shrouded in anger and fear. Tanjiro couldn't help but start crying, his mother never once raising her voice to him. Seeing her son's face Kie knelt to his level cupping his cheek in her palm to wipe his tears "I'm sorry Tanjiro but your father can't be here to protect us right now, he has to help the village" she said placing her son's hand on her rounded belly and gesturing to Nezuko, "please help me make our home safe for when he returns okay" she stated with reaching over to another buchel of wisteria and handing it to the young boy "Please take these and crush them in a bowl when they are nice and mushy mix this with it then I'll let you paint with me!" Tanjiro noticed his mother's tense face and forced smile, her eyes begging him to simply listen. Forcing himself to stop crying and wiping his  "m'kay mama I'll do good" he said, giving her the biggest smile he could, hurting his cheeks. A genuine smile spread on Kie's face, running into the kitchen to grab a mortar and pestle before handing it to the small boy. "Thank you Tanjiro, I'll explain what happens more on these nights when you're a little older I promise" she said before kissing the red-heads forehead.

 Sitting on the floor grinding the flowers in the bowl given to him Tanjiro watched his mother continue her frenzied movements. Stopping only to put Nezuko down in bed then resuming even faster. Once done mixing the crushed flowers with the oil his mother gave him she took his hand and led him outside. "Now we don't have a lot of time, do you see the moon up there?" Tanjiro followed his mothers gesture, looking to the moon when he noticed it wasn't normal. The moon seemed to be burning along its edges, glowing a frightening red, a strange smell filling the cold air. Nodding and looking back to his mother she continued "When the moon turns completely red very bad things can happen if you aren't careful,all this that  i'm doing is so they won't happen to us while your fathers gone" Tanjiro looked from his mother back to the moon, the fiery ring seeming to move closer to the center. The red-haired boy didn't know what he felt while looking at the normally pearly deity painted such a scary color. Then it hit him, dread. A big word he heard his father use once when telling them the stories from his travels. The story of some big scary monster chasing after his dad trying to hurt him. How his dad wasn't sure he would come home while it was after him, his mothers worried face branded into his mind. Tanjiro gulped and ran back to the door of their home grabbing the sticky mixture he made "What do I do mama" Kie smiled at him, proud of her sons bravery at such a young age "Please take it and smear it all around our house, don't worry about making a mess alright you won't be in trouble" she said while scooping up a glob of purple mush "Just rub it in until it soaks up okay, if any falls anywhere just leave it." Tanjiro watched the mixture disappear into the wood, a sweet floral smell beginning to overpower all others. It reminded Tanjiro of his father although smelling nothing like the man, safe and protecting. Grabbing the bowl and Ignoring the splinters his hands got, Tanjiro ran around the house rubbing furiously at every corner he could reach. Suddenly he was snatched by his mothers hands, pulling back toward the front of the house. Looking to the night sky one more time Tanjito saw the moon was fully eclipsed in red, the normally starry sky a black void. The snow reflecting the eerie glow painting the trees surrounding their home crimson. Rushing to the door Tanjiro was sure he saw a man running toward their house only to stop a distance away "Mama there's someone out there, shouldn't we let him in if it's bad outside?" Tanjiro's confused face looking at his mothers frightened one, her gaze locked on the door running faster  "No Tanjiro" she spoke with a desolate tone, worry pinching her brows before reaching for the handle "Anyone outside now will hurt us. No matter what they say or how they beg, DO. NOT. LET. THEM. IN ."  When Tanjiro looked back he saw the man begin sprinting toward their home again before he could reach their porch the front door slammed shut.