Page 78 of Son of Shadows

Was it to heal from his clash with his son, hide from shame after losing, or plot a campaign of vengeance?

Or all of the above?

Knowing Ryukage, he couldn’t be underestimated. Ryuichi had to mentally prepare. But as they got closer to the granite and stone structure, Ryuichi felt himself unraveling. All these pent-up feelings from the past were now rising to the surface.

The only thing Ryuichi had ever wanted was family. A clan where he belonged. Because of his father, he’d been tossed out of Hattori’s. Left to be ronin, a feckless wanderer with no sense of belonging.

When he found his father, he was foolish to think he had a chance, and now, after everything Ryukage had done, Ryuichi didn’t know if he could ever have it in his heart to forgive.

It didn’t seem fair that sometimes you could be so close and yet so far away from getting everything you wanted.

But the truth was, his father didn’t really deserve forgiveness. He never protected Ryuichi. He’d used his son and treated him like an enemy. Ryukage had done terrible things to his friends back home. And some of those things had caused Ryuichi to hurt the ones he loved most.

Ryuichi was only realizing this as he drew nearer to his father: His biggest fear was that if he forgave Ryukage for his awful actions, then he would render the suffering of his friends completely meaningless.

That he couldn’t do. They’d been unnecessarily hurt, and for what?

Keeping him safe.

That was what his father should have done. It was the Ryukage’s duty to protect and care about his child. In that, his father had failed miserably.

But Ryuichi was not about to fail his mission.

I will face my father down. I will convince him to do the right thing.

As Ryuichi and his company reached the elaborate estate, it was deathly quiet. Nothing living appeared to be anywhere in sight. Suddenly, a dewy mist floated over them, which gave Ryuichi the chills. Skittish over the quiet, he and the others removed their sandals and stepped inside, making sure they remained respectful.

And silent.

The Ryukage might be a monster, but they were his uninvited guests. Custom dictated that one must show good manners, even to enemies.

Ryuichi could feel all his muscles tense as he and his friends slowly made their way inside the huge palace. It was empty. No furnishings in the rooms or paintings on the walls. There was very little light coming into the space, which was good and bad. They could lurk in the shadows and sneak up on Ryukage, or the reverse could be true.

“Should we split up? We’ll cover more ground that way,” Ryuichi said.

Masaru shook his head. “No. If we stay united, we have a better chance of defending ourselves if something goes wrong.”

“I agree with Masaru. Together we’re stronger,” Yumi said with a soft smile.

Ryuichi smiled back. He was glad Yumi was here. Her calm confidence definitely made him surge with renewed resolve.

As they crept from room to room, Ryuichi tried to think of what he would say to his father once he saw him.

Assuming that Ryukage wouldn’t just try to kill him on sight.

Hey, Otou-san, I know we’ve had our differences and all, but if you could just, like, stop being evil, help me stop a civil war, and prevent Orochi from trying to take over both realms, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks. You’re the best!

Yeah, it would never be that easy, and he knew it.

Still, he had to believe he could get through to his father somehow. Hopefully, it wouldn’t mean fighting to the death, because that wasn’t a solution to their problems.

Ryuichi led the way through the palace as all the others stayed behind him. He wondered if they were just trying to give him space or wanted a front seat to this awkward father-son reunion. Even Inumagami, his father’s loyal hound, hung back and let Ryuichi walk a few paces in front of him, lest he become the target of the Ryukage’s fury.

But with each step, Ryuichi tried to remember Inumagami’s loving memories of his father, the ones Yumi described to him. He knew Ryukage was once a kind person, someone who was admired. He had to believe his father was still able to feel and care about others like he once did.

Because what other choice did he have?

Except to fight him once more.