Your Love is Dangerous

Ch.7: His past

As I ran to my mother's temple, I could hear the screeching of a certain falcon above me.
I smiled and waved at him and waited in anticipation once I got there.
Hybusa flew into the temple and landed on my mother's headstone.
"Hey there, you look much better" I said as I looked at his nearly healed wing."
"Oh he is, I never got to properly thank you that night" said the man I was hoping to see tonight.
"Oh..hi... I'm glad you came" I said blushing and moving my hair away from my face.
"Why wouldn't I?Without you, my dear friend wouldn't be here.
"Oh it was nothing, he's a very beautiful bird" I said reaching up to stroke his feathers.
"So I remember you telling me this was your mother's temple. Are you an orphan?" He asked.
I sighed and shook my head.
"No, but I might as well be. I used to live nearby with my mother and father. But after mama died my father completely changed. He married a cruel woman who hates me. He can't even celebrate my mother's birthday with me."
With every word I spoke I could feel tears coming to my eyes. But I refused to let them fall.
I nearly gasped as I felt one of his hands stroke my cheek and lifted my chin to make me look at him.
"He did that to you?" Shan-Yu asked as he examined the red mark on my cheek.
I nodded in shame, "I...got mouthy with him."
"...You're not the only one with a father who hits you. I used to get pretty mouthy with mine too."
I looked up at him with curiosity written all over my face. "Was he a Hun too?" I asked.
"Not exactly...it's not a pretty story. I wouldn't want to bore you" he said with a sigh.
"I've got all the time in the world. And cake" I said with a smile.
"Oh yeah? What kind?" He asked.
I smirked knowing I got his attention.
Reaching into my bag I pulled out a small box that contained a cute strawberry short cake.
"My mom's favorite. Had to get it for her to honor her on her special day."
"...That's actually my favorite too... I'd love some" he said taking a slice into his large hand and sighing once it was in his mouth.
"Anyway, you see my father met my mother through an arranged marriage. Although they were strangers they slowly fell in love with one another. Father would hunt and bring home meat. And mother would see his clothes and cook him meals. Some years later my mother became pregnant with twin boys. My father was overjoyed, but was also enlisted for the army at the time by the emperor. Despite her protest my father assured my mother that he would be back in time for the birth. 9 months later after training and many battles towards those who would threaten china. My father raced home to be with his family... however once he got there..the midwife had unfortunate news for him...my mother...died in child birth..I was born first and was healthy...but as for my younger brother Satoshi, he died as well...still born they called it. My father buried my mother and Satoshi and swore to get that he would take care of me. For the longest time it was just me and my father and I did all I could to be a good son and fighter like he wanted me to be...but I was never good enough. Any little mistake I made while training..he would smack the living hell out of me. When I begged him to stop he would say "Any mistake in combat will lead to death you little mistake!" As I grew older he resented me more and more. I think he blamed me for the deaths of my mother and brother. So much so that he sent me away to live with my relatives when he was enlisted again in the army..only this time..he never came back. Eventually I left and trained for years. Now I'm the leader of the Hun army. I will have my vengeance on the emperor for destroying my family."
With every word he spoke, my heart broke for him.
He was robbed from a normal life since birth. He has so much pent up rage in those cold yellow eyes.
Without thinking I reached over and placed my hand on his.
He looked up at me in shock but I remained calm.
"I'm sorry...you don't deserve anymore pain."
"Neither do you" he whispered.