(This was a concept I had in my head for a bit, where Hanako snuck out to help her brother, only to return to the slaughter. So far I am working on another two parts, but not sure where to go from there.)
When she was young, Hanako remember how her father grew more ill by the day. In fact he was so sick, he never got out of bed. If she hadn't seen him out of bed at least twice in her life, Hannko would have assumed he didn't have legs at all or could even walk. It had been something her oldest brother, Tanjiro teased her about quiet often when she was growing up. The whole family did, even after her father's death. When it was younger it bothered her so much to be teased, but, now she would have to disagree. As long as Tanjiro was happy for once she was grateful.
Even at the age of 8, she knew he worked harder than most his age. After all he went to the village every other week to sell coal for years now since their father had died. Their mother had helped up until her youngest brother, Rokuta, had been born 3 years ago, 3 months after her fathers death. Since then she had stayed at home, looking after the children. However, honestly she hadn't done well since the reality of being a single parent hit her.
Not that it was her fault, but their mother had finally after 2 years gotten some free time in her day to just relax and since that was when it hit her she was all on her own. Hannko had been helping her older sister Nezuko do the laundry while their brother played around with their mother watching rom a distance. One minute she looked down, then when she looked up at her mother again she was in tears.
That had been about 4 months ago, and she had just had not been the same. It was like she was ghost. So Nezuko, and Tanjiro did a lot of the house work now helping their mother as much as they could, as well as raising the kids. It took a lot out of them. Tanjiro often had bags under his eyes coming home later than normal. He also often cried when he did not sell enough late into the night whenever everyone was asleep, however, she always was awake when he cried. Yet, she never focused on it. If she did it would just make her brother upset to know he had made her nervous. As for Nezuko, she pretended she didn't see all the times she had broken down when her mother just sat stone cold, begging her to return to normal so she could have a childhood. Yet, the begs stayed in her dreams.
So if you asked Hanako, the teasing could continue as long as her siblings wished for it to. As long as it made them happy..Anything to help.
"I'm headed out!" Tanjiro yelled out to throwing his bag over his shoulder. Hanako noticed him wince the second the bag hit his bag as hard as it could making him bite his lip taking in a deep breath. She winced rushing over to him taking note of the bags under his eyes.
"Tanjiro! I can help! I promise!" Hanko begged ignoring the noise life of her older brother and two younger ones in the bacground going wild. Nezuko could be heard yelling at them to quiet down.
"Maybe next time Hanko you're only 8, and the town is quiet a far ways away." He chuckled messing with her hair.
"I'm 8 and 3/4. I'm turning 9 in a few months and you were that age when mama made you go sell coal down in the village! You would let me come and help to! And I can bring some other things to sell incase you don't sell much!" Hanko begged.
"Oh Hanako you don't have to worry about that. No matter how much money I make we will be fine. So why don't you stay here..enjoy sometime with our family for me, and tell me all I miss when I get back okay?" Tanjiro smiled trying to ease her worries. She went to argue more. She would not be a child. She would help out, to help everyone until mama got back to normal. However, instead their conversation was cute short by her youngest brother rushing forward hugging his legs begging him not to leave.
Just like that the last conversation they would ever have was cute short, by the baby of the family...just like her last moment with her sister.
Nezuko had been making dinner an hour later making, while the boys played swords outside while their mama sat by watching silently.
"Tanjiro could have let me gone...I could have helped.."She whispered nervously.
"Hanko, the village is much different without mama and papa there. There is a lot more dangers they protected us from...it is better you wait until mama is back to normal so she can go with Tanjiro and you. That way someone can make sure you are okay and safe.."Nezuko smiled making her sister sigh. She always knew what to say.
"But what...what if she does not get better...?"Hanako asks softly looking down.
"Then I will take you myself..We'll make a sisters day out of it, just like we use to when we would pick flowers around the forest for father..."Nezuko smiled taking her hand into her own. "That way you get a feel of what the village is like and how to stay safe. I'm sure Tanjiro will let you go then...until then be patient. there will always be other opertunities to go out traveling and helping us stay fit.."
"But what if there's not?"
"What makes you say that..?"Nezuko asked trying to keep her sister calm. Hanako bit her lip.
"I don't know how else to explain is, but I feel like I should be out today. I feel we should not be at home. I feel as if we stay here we are in danger. I feel as if we should catch up with Tanjiro to help as much as we can to help provide for if we don;t,,,I don't know. I just know the thought of staying here today just has my stomach in knots.."Hanako admitted to her older sister. Truth be told the second her eyes opened that morning her heart had been racing. Something just did not feel right. it hadn't ever since the last of those red flowers her father had planted outside their house had finally died off that fall. Yet, today she felt like an animal in a cage awaiting slaughter. It was as if she remained here, it would result in her families' demise, that they were all just waiting to face.
"Oh Hanko is this about the trouble Tanjrio had at the market last week?" Nezuko asked cupping her sister's face in her hands.
"I don't know but I am scared to stay here..what if he doesn't make enough moeny to feed us. What if he gets attacked on the way home? What if-"
"Hanako, it is just a normal day. tanjiro has done this since the moment you took your first breath, with father to guide him even now. I doubt anything will happen as father's spirit is protecting him during the trip..so he will be fine.."
"Then who's protecting us-"
Once again their conversation was cut short. this time by Rokuta rushing in holding a bruised arm crying his eyes out. Nezuko rushed over to wrap it up, as Hanko wished somethings he now regretted. She wished that stupid baby wasn't around anymore so things could go back to the way they used to be. Maybe then Mam would be normal again.
Oh, how she regretted that statement seeing his body on the snowy ground right now.
Hanako had her stuffed back within 30 minutes. She had plans to catch up with her brother, and sell some of the flowers she had picked from around the area in the woods. She had heard these flowers sold well in the village when she had run into travelers the other week with her brothers. She had everything ready to go when she heard her other brother.
"Are you going somewhere?" She spun around seeing her twin brother standing in their door seeming to be thinking. Shigeru just stood there looking at the bag.
"Shigeru, I have to go help Tanjiro.If I don't then...I fear...I don't know.."She sighs. They had always been close, and Shigeru had known when Hanako was usually nervous about something, it was better that she acted whenever she got a bad feeling. if she didn't often something bad would happen.
"Well if you want I can distract mama and Nezuko for you so you can sneak out....."Shigeru offered making her smiled. The two soon hugged each other close.
"Thank you for always having my back...."
"What else are brothers for!"
.....Thinking now..maybe she should have invited him to come with her. Maybe then he wouldn't be wherever he was now..
"Tanjiro I can explain! Just let me help! please!" It was all Hanako could think to do. The second she had walked herself down the hill, she had intended to look for her brother. She had, but it was her first time in the village! She just wanted to see the world for as long as she could! So it made sense she just toured the village meeting so many new freedom and getting a sense of freedom.
She had met so many people. Heck, she had even sold some flowers she had picked to a few people here and there. Her favorite customer was an elderly man who had bought flowers for his wife's birthday and gave her a snack for later too. Hanako, had made enough money to help support her family. Enough to make her proud, Heck, enough to make anyone proud. Nothing could ruin this moment.
That is until she quite literally ran face first into her oldest brother, who looked stoned face upon seeing her there.
"Please I just had a feeling to come! I just wanna help so bad! Please let me stay an-"
"Hanako, I'm not mad.."He sighs messing up her hair.
"No. I am actually impressed that you managed to get here and have a product to sell I hear." He smiled showing a sense of pride. One she could only hope mama would show to her when she got home. Hanako, held out her hand worth pride dropping the cash into his hand, making him beam more.
"You know maybe I should have brought you from the beginning." He chuckled. "Definitely won't be making that mistake next time..In fact why don't you come with me next time?" He smiled Hanako so proud.
She had done it! She had helped her family! She was so proud!
So proud in fact that she didn't notice how eerily quiet the forest was around the house for once...until she aw her big sister's dead body laying outside their house clinging onto her little brother as he struggled to breathe...while a man could be seen fighting their mother in their house.
