Royuki stared at the man in disbelief. He felt a mix of emotions: shock, anger, joy, confusion, fear. He couldn't believe that his father was standing in front of him, alive and well. He couldn't believe that his father had found him, after all these years. He couldn't believe that his father was one of the chosen ones, one of the elite warriors who had fought in the Endless Battle of Hell.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He didn't know what to say, what to ask, what to do. He felt paralyzed, frozen in place.
The man smiled, and walked towards him. He reached out his hand, and touched Royuki's shoulder.
"Hello, son. It's been a long time. I'm sorry I left you. I'm sorry I didn't come back. I'm sorry I missed your childhood. I'm sorry for everything. But I'm here now. I'm here to make it up to you. I'm here to teach you. I'm here to help you. I'm here to love you. I'm your father, Royuki. And I'm proud of you."
Royuki flinched, and pushed the man away. He backed off, and raised his wooden sword. He glared at the man, and shouted.
"Don't touch me! Don't call me son! Don't act like you care! You're not my father! You're a stranger! You're a liar! You're a coward! You abandoned me! You left me alone! You chose fame over family! You chose war over peace! You chose death over life! You don't know me! You don't love me! You don't deserve me! You're nothing to me!"
The man sighed, and shook his head. He lowered his hand, and dropped his smile. He looked at Royuki, and said.
"I understand your anger, Royuki. I understand your pain. I understand your resentment. You have every right to feel that way. You have every right to hate me. But you're wrong about one thing. I do know you. I do love you. And I do deserve you. Because you're my son, Royuki. And you're everything to me."
He paused, and continued.
"Let me explain, Royuki. Let me tell you the truth. Let me tell you why I left. Let me tell you why I didn't come back. Let me tell you why I fought in the Endless Battle of Hell. Let me tell you why I'm here now. Let me tell you everything, Royuki. Please, just listen to me. Please, just give me a chance. Please, just trust me. Please, just forgive me."
Royuki hesitated, and lowered his wooden sword. He looked at the man, and saw a hint of sincerity, a trace of regret, a flicker of hope. He felt a tug of curiosity, a pull of compassion, a spark of love. He wanted to hear the man's story. He wanted to know the man's reasons. He wanted to understand the man's actions. He wanted to connect with the man's feelings. He wanted to accept the man's apology. He wanted to embrace the man's love.
He wanted to give the man a chance.
He nodded, and said.
"Okay, father. I'll listen to you. I'll give you a chance. I'll trust you. I'll forgive you. But you have to be honest with me. You have to tell me the truth. You have to tell me everything. Because I'm your son, father. And I deserve to know."
The man smiled, and nodded. He walked towards Royuki, and hugged him. He felt Royuki's warmth, Royuki's heartbeat, Royuki's breath. He felt Royuki's acceptance, Royuki's trust, Royuki's forgiveness. He felt Royuki's love.
He whispered in Royuki's ear.
"Thank you, son. Thank you for listening. Thank you for giving me a chance. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for loving me. I love you, Royuki. I love you more than anything. And I'll tell you everything. I'll tell you the truth. I'll tell you why I left. I'll tell you why I didn't come back. I'll tell you why I fought in the Endless Battle of Hell. I'll tell you why I'm here now. I'll tell you everything, Royuki. Because you're my son, Royuki. And you deserve to know."
