“…!”
Ryuuga and Ujiyasu were both surprised by what Raiha said.
After a small nod, she explained her opinion to her father.
“What we did won’t go away. That sin will be with us our whole lives… You should think carefully about what must be done to make up for it. If you just do what someone tells you, can you really say you atoned?”
“…”
“…I am like you, father. I asked Ryuuga how to atone, but I was rebuked, and through that I found a path to live and atone.”
“Raiha…”
Ujiyasu whispered, surprised about what his daughter said, and how she was facing her sins.
And as she looked at her amazed father, Raiha spoke from the heart.
“Those sins and responsibilities aren’t just yours. The whole Utsusemi family carries them, so let’s all look for a way to atone. I think that is true atonement.”
“…Yes, you’re right. Atoning as I am told is not true atonement…”
Just doing what Ryuuga wanted or throwing his life away was not atonement.
They had to face their past and look for a way after accepting it… That was the first step.
Ujiyasu turned to Ryuuga, after being scolded by his daughter for asking a thoughtless question, who spoke with a small exhale.
“…Your daughter said what I wanted to say. I have nothing to say.”
“…Thank you, Ryuuga.”
“I didn’t do anything worth thanking. I didn’t say I forgive you. I’m just taking time to see if your remorse is real.”
Ryuuga said with a cold tone, but a kindness that could not be hidden was felt.
As he thanked Ryuuga for the chance to atone, Ujiyasu threw a question.
“I know you hate questions, but I want to ask one. Why… did you save my daughter? You knew everything, so…?”
Ryuuga squinted a little.
He exhaled, and since Ujiyasu was facing within, he did not reject the question like always.
“…Revenge and hatred were always whirling in my heart until I came here. If I knew the truth then, forget saving your daughter, I would have done the deed with my own hands.”
“…What changed it?”
“I met a friend here that changed me. Who reminded me of why my father gave me his sword.”
Said Ryuuga as if bragging about his friend with an honest heart.
And as Ujiyasu did not move a bit, Ryuuga continued.
“My friend is a very honest guy. He calls someone like me partner, and trusts me from the bottom of his heart. I remembered it when I thought I wanted to meet that trust. When I received the Loong King Fang, I swore I would be a man worthy of this sword.”
Said Ryuuga, closing his eyes as if remembering the day he received the sword from his father.
Protect people, cut evil and sadness, that was the kind of swordsman he would be.. He thought back to his past promise, looked at Ujiyasu, and continued.
“Meeting this friend changed me. I wasn’t the only one, many people’s fates continue to twist and turn.”
“And it was these twists of fate that saved Raiha?”
“Yes. I was saved by my friend, I saved your daughter, and she is supporting your troubled heart. And once you get back up, I’m sure you’ll change a lot of people’s fate.”
The first step was very small. Changing the heart, the fate of the person called Ryuuga a little.
But what he did changed the destinies of Raiha, Setsuna, and Sakura. And now the fate of the head of one of the three families with strong influence over Yamato was changing.
“Fate can be changed. If you have friends who believe in you from the bottom of your heart… You have those friends, so you can shake free from doubt.”
“Yes… You’re right. Meeting people can change fate… Ryuuga, you really have learned a lot and became strong.”
“I’m a weak person. That’s why I wish to become strong. A truly strong person fitting of my friend’s trust.”
Hatred and anger could not be easily abandoned. But Ryuuga carried them as he faced forward.
Surely it was harder and more painful than abandoning everything. But still, he chose that road. To become a truly strong person.
“Then I cannot let this get me down either. I will do my best to earn your trust. That is my duty, as someone who committed a transgression in the past.”
“…To be honest, I feel hesitant to say this to you. But… I believe. You will pick the right path.”
The day where everything would be better was far away. But at the same time, it was not certain it would never come.
Both faced each other quietly, and eventually spoke at the same time, bringing somewhat of a stop to this issue between them.
“I’m glad I spoke with you. I can move on.”
“I feel the same way, Ryuuga. I’m glad we spoke.”
Ujiyasu and Ryuuga spoke without malice or disturbance, leaving their pasts behind.
Yuugo and the others felt relieved as they watched them in secret.
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