Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ryuichi leaned on his sword and wiped at the sweat on his brow. He’d tried every trick Koichi and Katsu had taught him. He still couldn’t best the massive oni he was fighting.
The only thing Ryuichi had going for him was that his opponent was starting to exhaust himself. He could barely lift his club at this point.
At least part of their plan was working.
Yumi took one last shot with her bow, hitting the enemy right between the eyes.
Yamaguchi shook his head, then fell to his knees. “No . . . must squash . . .”
He collapsed and hit the ground so hard it knocked Ryuichi off his feet. The oni’s head fell back into the dirt, and when he spoke, his words were slurred. “Give me a few minutes. I want to close my eyes for just a little bit.”
Ryuichi exchanged a curious look with Yumi. Had they just won?
Really?
He was afraid to even hope it was true.
Katsu looked as exhausted as Ryuichi felt. He stepped back and lowered his sword, his breathing heavy.
Yamaguchi was gasping for air underneath the sheer weight of his armor. They had been battling for what seemed like an eternity. Granted, it was only a few hours, but still.
It felt like an epic war that should be counted among the heroes of old. A legend that should be written about and sang through the ages.
All that being said, Ryuichi had no idea how those ancient warriors were able to fight for seven days and nights. He hadn’t been able to do it for one, taking shifts, and he was at his breaking point.
Even with a kitsune like Masaru to give him extra strength and power.
“You know what?” Yamaguchi let out a long sigh. “A truce sounds good. I could go for a truce right about now.”
Lord Hayasaka clicked his tongue. “Looks like they’re finally finished. Onward we go!”
As they gathered together and walked past the half-dead oni, Katsu politely bowed to Yamaguchi. “Thank you for your hard work.”
The oni stayed sprawled out on the ground. “Don’t . . . mention it.”
Yamaguchi had done his job of guarding the Ryukage. That was a given and there was no dishonor in his defeat. He had never met such a big and stubborn brute in all his life.
Not even Koichi.
Hanzō had come close though.
Ryuichi shuddered to think what would have happened to him had Katsu, Masaru, and Yumi not been there.
A single strike from Yamaguchi’s massive club and they would have had to scrape him off the ground.
If it wasn’t for all of them taking turns, he’d never have been able to survive such a beastly foe.
The inhabitants of the spirit world continued to impress him every day.
Once they made it through the narrow tunnel that had been guarded by the oni, the space widened again, revealing the heart of the island.
It was a valley trapped between impossibly steep cliffs, with dark, foreboding clouds hovering above.
At its center lay an expansive estate, which had been partly carved out of the surrounding cliffsides.
The pagoda was solid black granite with a single golden spire that jutted into the sky.
Ryuichi had never seen anything like it.
But why had Ryukage fled to this place?
That was now the biggest mystery, and soon it would be solved.
Ryuichi and the others followed the trail, unsure of what they would find along the way. At the end of this road, there would, of course, be the Ryukage, but what was he up to in this isolated part of the realm, far away from civilization and the vultures seeking his throne?
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.
When they reached the inner courtyard, Ryuichi felt his breath catch in his throat. Illuminated through the opaque partition enclosing the area, they could clearly see someone’s silhouette.
Was Ryukage . . . taking a relaxing dip in the spa?
Well, at least he knew his father wouldn’t have any weapons on him in the bath.
Then again, maybe he would?
“Do you want me to come with you?” Yumi asked Ryuichi.
“That’s very nice of you to offer, but I should do this alone,” he replied.
“We’re right here if you need us,” Masaru said, patting Ryuichi on the shoulder. “But you won’t, because you are a fierce warrior.”
Steeling himself against the dread he felt, Ryuichi nodded. “Here goes nothing.”
He walked toward the door in the partition and slid it open.
The Ryukage was soaking in a hot spring. With the exception of his head, his entire body was submerged in its soothing warm waters. When his father looked at him, it was with an unmistakable grimace of annoyance.
Ryuichi almost couldn’t believe it. After all this searching, he wasn’t expecting to see his father, the most treacherous demon in the spirit world, indulging himself like this, without a care in the universe.
Was he unaware of what was happening with Orochi and the rest of the rebellion? Or had he just given up?
The Ryukage growled with displeasure. “Well, what do you want, boy? Spit it out already.”
Ryuichi slid the partition door closed, watching his friends stand together as they waited.
Then he disrobed and descended into the hot springs without a word to his father.
The water was boiling hot, but Ryuichi refused to let his father see him wince from the heat.
He wanted to portray himself as strong and in command.
Even though that’s not how he felt in this moment.
His father sighed heavily. “Great, now you’re sitting in my sauna. Who even let you in? There’s supposed to be a guard.”
“I fought my way past him.” Ryuichi answered without blinking.
Ryukage grinned.
If Ryuichi didn’t know better, he’d think there was pride in his father’s eyes too.
“Did you kill Yamaguchi?”
“No.”