Demon Slayer: Cambion Heritage

The Kamado household was buzzing with the hum of daily life. Tanjiro helped his siblings carry buckets of water from the stream, while their mother, Kie, prepared rice and pickled vegetables for the evening meal. King stood off to the side, leaning against the wooden railing of the porch, his gaze distant. The weight of the approaching storm bore down on him, twisting his stomach into knots.

He couldn't stay. Not when he knew what was about to happen.

It's too soon. Damn timeline's about to snap if I stick around, King thought, clenching his fists. The system's silent warnings still lingered in the back of his mind like an itch he couldn't scratch.

"King? Are you alright?"

King turned to see Tanjiro walking toward him, his ever-present warmth radiating like sunlight. The boy wiped his hands on his haori, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Yeah, I'm good," King said, forcing a grin. "Just got some stuff on my mind."

Tanjiro tilted his head, his sharp intuition picking up on King's unease. "You've been quiet all morning. Is something troubling you?"

"Nah, man, it's nothin' serious," King replied, waving a hand dismissively. Then, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Actually… I wanted to talk to you 'bout somethin'."

Tanjiro's expression brightened with encouragement. "Of course. What is it?"

King looked away, the words tasting bitter on his tongue. "I'm leavin'."

"Leaving?" Tanjiro blinked, the surprise evident in his voice.

King nodded, his tone low but steady. "Yeah. Got some family I need to check on, y'know? I've been here too long already. Don't wanna overstay my welcome."

Tanjiro's eyes softened with understanding, but there was a flicker of disappointment too. "I see. Your family must be worried about you. I'll miss having you here, though. It's been nice having someone to talk to."

"Yeah, same here, man," King said, his grin fading into something more genuine. "You and your fam… y'all good people. Real good people." He hesitated, then added, "Promise me you'll look out for them, alright? No matter what happens."

Tanjiro straightened, his voice firm. "I'll always protect my family. That's my duty."

King's chest tightened at the boy's conviction. He doesn't even know what's comin' for him.

That evening, Kie insisted on preparing a special meal for King before he left. The small table was crowded with bowls of rice, miso soup, and grilled fish, the aroma filling the modest home. Tanjiro's younger siblings chattered excitedly, their laughter bouncing off the wooden walls.

"King-nii, are you going far away?" Shigeru asked, his big eyes wide with curiosity.

King smiled, ruffling the boy's hair. "Not too far, lil' man. Just need to check on my folks. I'll be back before you know it."

Hanako tugged at his sleeve, her voice a soft whisper. "Promise you'll come back?"

The question hit harder than it should have, but King nodded anyway. "Yeah, I promise."

Kie watched the exchange with a gentle smile, her hands folded neatly in her lap. "You've been a wonderful guest, King-san. Our home is always open to you."

"Thanks, Mrs. Kamado," King said, bowing slightly in respect. "You've been real kind to me. I won't forget it."

Tanjiro watched quietly, his eyes glinting with something unspoken.

The next morning, the sky was painted in hues of soft lavender and pale gold as King stood at the edge of the Kamado property. His bag slung over one shoulder, he looked back at the simple house that had been his refuge for the past few days.

Tanjiro stood a few paces behind him, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Are you sure you can't stay a little longer?" he asked, his voice tinged with sadness.

King exhaled through his nose, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. "I can't, man. Got my own stuff to handle. But you… you keep doin' what you're doin'. Don't let nothin' break you."

Tanjiro nodded, his jaw set with determination. "I'll do my best."

King clapped a hand on Tanjiro's shoulder, the gesture both comforting and firm. "Take care of your fam, alright? And if you ever need help, just look for me. I got your back."

"Thank you, King," Tanjiro said, his voice steady despite the emotion in his eyes.

With one last nod, King turned and walked away, the crunch of his footsteps fading into the morning mist.

Later...

As King descended the mountain, he fought the urge to turn back. Every step felt like a betrayal, like he was abandoning the Kamado family to their fate.

"This ain't my story," he muttered to himself. "I can't mess it up. Gotta let things play out."

But no matter how much he tried to convince himself, the image of Tanjiro's earnest smile and Kie's gentle kindness refused to leave his mind.

The system's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade.

You have chosen wisely. Maintaining distance from main characters ensures the timeline remains intact.

King's jaw tightened. "Yeah, yeah. Don't pat yourself on the back just yet. I'm only doin' this 'cause I don't wanna screw things up."

The path leveled out as he reached the base of the mountain. Ahead lay the dense forest, its shadows stretching long in the morning light. King took a deep breath and stepped forward, the weight of his choices pressing heavy on his shoulders.

If fate's gonna do its thing, fine. But I'm not gonna let it have the last word.