Page 81 of Son of Shadows

Ryuichi’s father screamed again, shattering the glass windows of the room. And then suddenly, he froze, like Inumagami had when Yumi read his mind.

Wait a minute!

Ryuichi turned to Yumi, who started speaking in a tender voice.

“The world had never showed your father an ounce of mercy,” she said. “Losing his wife and being destined to fight his son was a sick twist of fate. A cruel game played on him by the callous gods he’d once served so faithfully.”

Ryuichi stood there in wonder, listening to each word.

“When Ryukage came here, he’d consigned himself as another hapless victim of fate. The same fate he fought so hard against had seen fit to deliver his son back to him. For the first time, he was granted a chance to salvage what family he still had. He knew he secretly desired to be with his son—not as the Ryukage, but as a father.”

Masaru nudged Ryuichi. “It’s lucky we have her with us, isn’t it?”

Ryuichi couldn’t agree more. Hearing Ryukage’s inner thoughts this way definitely made him see his father differently.

Yumi continued, “It was a longing your father denied. But he couldn’t stop himself from caring. That’s why, on the cusp of seizing the world, he couldn’t bring himself to kill you. Something that should have been so easy for a monster like him.”

His father was telling the truth. Ryukage had spared his life.

“If he helps you slay Orochi, a real monster of a yōkai who your father despises more than any creature he has ever come across, maybe it might balance the scales and make up for some of the disasters he’s caused. Maybe it might heal something inside Ryukage too.”

Ryuichi felt something wash over him.

It was hope.

He couldn’t remember the last time he felt it, but he was relieved to experience it once again.

Even if it was only fleeting.

Ryukage came out of his trance. He was no longer consumed by anger. But he didn’t seem to know that Yumi had spilled all his secrets.

“Fine, I’ll do it,” he agreed, and went to fetch his clothes, which were hanging on a chair nearby.

Ryuichi was stunned. “Really?”

“Don’t get so excited. I’ll most likely feed you and your friends to Orochi as a distraction and then kill him once he’s through.”

Ryuichi should have been offended by what his father said, but he knew the truth.

So did everyone else in the room.

Ryukage could be their savior instead of the ultimate villain. He could choose honor instead of hatred. Benevolence instead of bloodthirstiness. Justice instead of punishment.

His fate was truly in his hands.

Only time would tell what he would decide.

And there wasn’t much time left.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Masaru stood in front of the boat, completely aghast. “What do you mean he’s not taking us back?”

“Drink?” the shinigami repeated the single word that was about to make them all lose their minds.

Ryuichi let out a deep groan in frustration. And here he’d thought getting his father on his side would be the hardest part of his mission.

Apparently, the stubborn shinigami had decided to become a bigger obstacle.