1. A New Life

                                    

                                          
Tanjirou POV (9 Years Old) [1909]
I had always looked up to him, even though he was weak, he would never give up on helping the family. He would walk down the mountain every day and sell coal everyday except on some days when we insisted that he stay home and spend time together as a family. 
He wasn't weak, but he was very ill. I remember the first time when I realized it. I was still so young, but I remember when I recognized the difference between my dad and another of the people he was talking to. His hands weren't wrinkled and his hands looked very strong and big. 
My dad's hands were wrinkled, and very bony. I started helping around the house even though I was still very small and couldn't live with some heavy stuff. But I would always try. One time I tried lifting a wedge stone that weighed 16 pounds, even though I was only 2. I couldn't lift it and my parents were really worried. 
When my father gradually started to become weaker and weaker I would always try to take over of as many things as I could as I aged. 
Soon I was able to life the stone wedge. 
Soon I was able to start lifting some of the sticks back for the fire. 
Soon I was able to start cutting down trees. 
Soon I was able to start walking down the mountain with my dad to sell coal. 
But he never allowed me to learn the Hinokami Kagura Dance. "Why? I don't want you to get hurt" I said to my dad. My dad had injured himself when cutting down a tree and one of the branches managed to hit his arm. 
"Because it isn't your time" He replied cryptically.
"Then when?" I sounded desperate. Like I wanted to take over his duties. But that wasn't it. I just didn't want him to push himself so far. 
He looked at me. I was now 13 years old. He stroked my head like he always did and smiled. Even though I try to look on the positive, it was always hard when I had to notice how bony his hands had become. "His hands aren't as firm anymore" I thought to myself, his hands even more bony than before. 
He looked out of the window at the snow. "I am sure, it's going to be very soon" He whispered. He looked at me before taking out his Hanafuda earrings. "Promise me... to keep the promise, of passing down these Hanafuda earrings" He said. "We made a promise."
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The next day, we made a horrifying discovery. My dad had passed away in his sleep. My mother was the first to find out after waking up to feel his body had become cold. My father was never cold, my mom described him like fire. 
When the rest of my siblings found out some of them didn't understand because of how young they were. 
Takeo was only 5 years old. 
Shigeru and Hanako were only 4. 
And Rokuta was only 1. 
But Nezuko was old enough to understand, and she was devastated. Both her, my mom, Takeo and me all cried. Shigeru, Hanako and Rokuta didn't understand but joined the family hug anyways, Rokuta crawling his way towards us. 
The day passed by in an instant, us creating a grave for my father outside even though it was cold. Nezuko and mom had to go inside to take care of the others, but I stayed outside determined to dig this grave. 
I dug and I dug and I dug. The snow piling up on top of me. 
It was so cold my tears began freezing, but I didn't stop. This was for my dad.