Solar Blade

Goodbyes

Tanjiro POV:

[Name] was packing their things. It was the same, mundane old process over and over again. Tanjiro never understood how [Name] was lucky enough to get a job in the village at the foot of the mountain. But still, he was grateful that it had happened. Tanjiro secured his basket full of charcoal on his back, waiting for [Name] to finish packing. He could hear [Name] mumbling under their breath. Something about living too far up the mountain. Tanjiro never had a problem with their home's location. But [Name] didn't have the same stamina as him, only being 12, the same age as his younger sister Nezuko.

"[Name], would you like me to help you gather your things?" Tanjiro asked, crouching down to them.

[Name]'s smile brightened Tanjiro's heart as a small nod was given from them. They were given a job as a sewist. [Name] was the one who taught Nezuko how to fix her kimono and gained their skills from their mother Kie. Tanjiro was glad that he now had someone to walk down the mountain with. [Name] was particularly strong as well, so he didn't have to worry about anything happening to them. Tanjiro paced to the shelf, where [Name]'s favourite threads, wound around small thumb-sized spools. Tanjiro held one up to his eye level, admiring the thread's deep red hue.

"These are of amazing quality, [Name]! Did you spin these at the shop?" Tanjiro asked, collecting each small spool while handing them to [Name].

"No. Sayato-san gifted them to me," [Name] answered, placing the spools in their small sack.

Sayato-san? Tanjiro believed that [Name] was meeting so many new people. People were being kind to them, and he was so thankful for that. Tanjiro set the basket on his back on the ground, not wanting to strain his shoulders. [Name] was finished packing their sack, and Tanjiro let out a smile as they tied the bag closed with a rope. This was [Name]'s second week on the job, so they still had to get used to it. Tanjiro easily got into the swing of charcoal selling, so he figured that [Name] wouldn't take long to settle.

"Shall we leave? Have you eaten? We don't want you getting hungry on the way down," Tanjiro spoke as he pulled the basket of charcoal onto his back.

Before [Name] could respond, their mother walked into the room. Her name was Kie, and they loved her very much. She had a very light complexion, much like Tanjiro, but her dark purple eyes shone in contrast with her porcelain skin. Her black hair was pulled back into a bun with a few strands dangling from her ears and forehead. She had a small beauty mark on the left side of her lower lip. Tanjiro and [Name] had gotten used to seeing her smile every day. She wore a purple and cream-coloured kimono, which [Name] had to fix quite often, with a white kappōgi covering it. Her hair was covered with a white cloth.

"Tanjiro, [Name], you're going out at this time? [Name], it's going to get dark soon. Are you sure you want to take a night shift?"

[Name] only gave a terse nod. Kie and Tanjiro both smiled. [Name] was always a hard-working child, proven by sleepless nights of sewing and mending. Kie then looked at her son. Tanjiro was the oldest of 7 children. Himself, [Name], Nezuko, Takeo, Hanako, Shigeru and Rokuta. She then took a small step towards Tanjiro before kneeling in front of him, placing her hand under her kappōgi and bringing it to his cheeks.

"Tanjiro, your face is covered in soot. Come over here," Kie softly speaks as she wipes off the remnants of soot from Tanjiro's face. After cleaning off his face, she whispers in his ear, "It's dangerous with all this snow. You don't have to go, you know."

"Well, I want everyone to eat their fill on New Year's, so I'm gonna sell as much charcoal as I can. And [Name] will work on as much cloth as they can," Tanjiro answers, looking at [Name].

"Thank you, Tanjiro and [Name]," Kie speaks before loud footsteps are heard between giggles.

[Name] and Tanjiro's other two younger siblings, Hanako and Shigeru, come bounding around the door. Tanjiro kneels to them, and [Name] can see their other brother, Takeo coming behind the other two. Kie walks out of the way for the rest of her children.

"You're both going into town again today?" Shigeru asks with a smile on his face

"I'm going with you!" Hanako chirps, bringing a smile to [Name]'s face.

"Oh no, you're not. You know you can't walk fast like Tanjiro or [Name]," Kie reprimands them.

Hanako and Shigeru both whine, begging Kie to let them come with the two of them. Tanjiro looks to [Name], before [Name] shakes their head in resignation. Tanjiro wished they could come, but it would get dark soon, and he wasn't taking the cart so he wouldn't be able to pull everyone back up. Kie was right. They shouldn't come, at least not for today.

"She's right. But I promise we'll bring back goodies for you all," Tanjiro speaks.

Hanako and Shigeru's faces light up. Tanjiro was the nicest person they knew. Older sister, Nezuko, was probably the second nicest person. Hanako and Shigeru both hug Tanjiro, making [Name] hold his basket in place on his back.

"We'll be heading out now. Be good, you all!" Tanjiro speaks.

[Name] turns their head to Takeo, hiding in the corner with a hatchet. His scarf was designed much like Tanjiro's haori. [Name] found that they always got along with Takeo quite easily, so they walked up to him with their bag in hand.

"Takeo, chop as much wood as you can, okay?" [Name] asked while placing their hand on Takeo's shoulder.

Takeo's eyebrows rose and his deep red eyes glistened. He scrunched up his face as he responded, "Sure, I will... but I was hoping we'd do it together."

At that, [Name] turned around, walking back to Tanjiro. Tanjiro smiled as [Name] came back to his side, and took their hand. Everyone made their way outside. [Name] had their sewing materials in hand and Tanjiro had his basket of charcoal. Tanjiro turned back to face his family and waved. He slightly nudged [Name] to do the same.

"Hurry back, okay?" Shigeru shouts after Tanjiro.

Tanjiro nods his head and begins to walk with [Name]. [Name] was always very quiet on the way down the mountain, but when working with threads, they were like a completely different person. Tanjiro was about to start a conversation with [Name] before he heard a familiar voice.

"[Name]! Tanjiro!"

They both turn their head to see their sister Nezuko, holding their youngest sibling Rokuta on her back.

A/N

Hi! This is my first novel that follows KNY and I'm really excited to keep writing. I love this anime/manga so much and with all the other stories I'm seeing, I really wanted to give it a shot. Thanks for taking a look. Hopefully, I can get chapter 2 done quickly. Please let me know if I made any mistakes!