Chapter 3 A talk with my family

I again apologise for the late update, to reply to previous questions I am not copying anyone's fanfic it is mine and I didn't like my original one, so I deleted it. Sabito, Makomo will survive

"Is that your decision?"

"Yes." I answered respectfully as I sat in front of my parents. "I want to be a Demon Slayer."

I had thought long and hard about it after my encounter with Urokodaki. If I cannot make my family move out of our home, then I will make my own move. I will protect them by actively slaying demons and hopefully this will cause a large enough butterfly effect so that Muzan will never come and kill them. It's a desperate and stupid move, but the best I have right now to truly alter the path which fate dictates that we walk on.

The Demon Slayer Corps is a secret organisation not recognised by the government. Under normal circumstances there's no way a mere boy living in the mountains could possibly come into contact with any Demon Slayer or learn of their base of operations, but I had met Sakonji Urokodaki. He's obviously interested in taking me into the Corps and maybe making me his disciple. It is something that I can take advantage of.

So, I asked if I could be a Demon Slayer like him. He said yes. I told him to wait in town because I have to inform my family of this decision and I want to do it myself, alone. He graciously agreed, but told me that if by the time noon had come tomorrow and I'm not there, he would leave because he had places to be and demons to slay.

"But Asahi! You are only thirteen!" My mother stressed, obviously uncomfortable about the idea of me, her child, facing bloodthirsty supernatural creatures on my own. "I'm not allowi-"

"I had made up my mind, mother. I will leave tomorrow with or without you and father's blessings." I said resolutely. It pains me to do this too, but this is the best option I have so far. I may know how to use the Breath of the Sun through learning the Dance of the Fire God but that does not mean I know how to use a blade. The Demon Slayer Corps can teach me what my father cannot. Also, such a chance will not come twice. With this, my chances of being able to protect my family will increase drastically. The monthly salary Urokodaki-sama promised me is a very helpful bonus.

My family really has a use for this money. Of course Demon Slayers are remunerated for their services. It would make sense. How else are the Slayers able to fully concentrate on slaying demons if they cannot even afford a basic meal to feed themselves? They need to have some sort of income from somewhere. The money is probably from the Ubuyashiki family if I have to make an educated guess but that is not my main concern.

My main concern is to quickly grow as strong as realistically possible to protect my family. I will clean the surrounding area of demons and find a way for Muzan to never come close to the mountain where we live. Tanjiro and Nezuko suffered too much in canon. Now that I'm here, I won't let them suffer the same fate if I could help it.

I am their big brother, protecting them is my duty. Protecting the family is my duty. It is this family that made me capable of feeling true emotions again, who made me human.

I really want to protect them.

"Asa-!" My mother exclaimed in frustration but stopped herself, turning to my father instead. "Tanjuro! Say something!"

My father simply looked at me with a quiet and calm gaze.

"Have you really made up your mind? Is this really what you want to do?"

"Yes, it is." I replied without a moment of hesitation.

"Why choose this path?"

"If a demon could appear so close to home right now, who's to say another won't appear?" I answered, not bothering to conceal my true feelings. "As the oldest, I have to protect the family. So, I will become a Demon Slayer. I will slay all the demons in this area so that we won't live in constant fear of them any longer. I will be a Demon Slayer so that my siblings won't need to be one, so that no one else in the family needs to be one, so that nobody else needs to be one."

"Just leave it to that Urokodaki-san you were talking about!" My mother is near hysterical at this point. "A child shouldn't have any busi-"

"Kie."

My father gently cut my mother off before turning to face me with a gentle smile.

"Asahi, if this is truly what you feel, then go. Do not worry about us, we will be fine. Walk the path that you decide on."

"Tanjuro!"

"He will not be a child forever, Kie." My father said patiently. "Everyone has their own path to walk. If Asahi is sure that this is his path, then we should not stop him."

My father ruffled my hair fondly like how he always does, that same kind smile still on his face.

"Regardless of what you choose to do, we're proud to call you our son, Haruto. If you really want to be a Demon Slayer, go and be the best one there ever will be. If you are tired, then come home. We will be waiting for you."

I had did not cry much ever since I became Asahi Kamado, but that was the first time I did.

"Onii-chan is leaving?"

"Yes. Onii-chan is leaving so that I can earn money to support the family." I patiently explained to Tanjiro. "You are the eldest now, Tanjiro. You have to take care of the family in my stead. Father is not as healthy as before, it's your job now as the man of the house. I will try to come back to visit as often as I can."

Tanjiro and Nezuko sobbed into my chest as I held them close. It's a little late when I finally reached home, and after I explained my decision to my parents, only Tanjiro and Nezuko were still awake. The rest of my siblings are already asleep.

"I-I d-don't want onii-chan to leave!"

"I'm sorry, Nezuko." I apologised as I tried my best to console my sister. "But I have to do this. This is the only way I know how to protect the family."

"T-Then we w-will go with-"

"No, you two will not. None of you will." I said in a stern voice. "The job onii-chan is undertaking is very dangerous. I will not allow you two to do it."

"B-But onii-chan! You-!"

"Onii-chan is strong, so don't worry." I patted Tanjiro on the head. "You are kind, Tanjiro, you are too kind. It's your kindness that saved your onii-chan so stay that way, okay?"

"H-Huh?"

I gave Tanjiro a smile. He really has no idea just how his mere presence made me want to be a better person. That's why I won't let him suffer, I won't make him do things alone. If possible, he will never need to wield a blade. To hell with canon, my family comes first.

I'm really glad to be able to be their big brother.

"Onii-chan will protect all of you, I promise, so Tanjiro, can you promise me something in return?"

"Y-Yes."

"Promise me that you will protect this family when I'm not around. Promise me that you will learn the Dance of the Fire God and master it as soon as you can. You can see our father's condition for yourself. He's not in the condition to continue dancing it for much longer, it's time we take over. Now that I'm not around I won't be able to succeed with the hanafuda earrings, so make sure you succeed in my stead."

"I-I promise! I promise!"

I ruffled Tanjiro's head fondly like how our father likes to do it for us.

"Thank you, Tanjiro."

"Have you said your goodbyes?"

"It was a tearful sendoff, but I'm ready to leave." I replied without giving much away in the tone of my voice. My younger siblings cried a lot, not wanting me to leave. Rokuta is still too young to understand anything but the moment Hanako cried he just followed. It took me a while to placate them and promise that I will come back as much as possible.

Urokodaki merely looked at me thoughtfully before shaking his head.

"Then let's go."

And so, I left my home and family.

To protect my family, I became a Demon Slayer.

Next Chapter will be about his family's feelings on him becoming a demon slayer and his training.

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