Duality (DxD) (Part 1)

Ch 17 - Bans Past

Ban: Garo... was the second most talented martial artist if I was going to compare him to you. But you both have an unyielding drive to get stronger.

Jin stood there as he looked at Ban wipe his tears away. Looking at Ban kneeling on the ground as he explained to Jin the past. Ban wanted to be completely honest, but if he was going to give Jin the opportunity to live a normal life, he would have to leave out the more supernatural parts of the past.

Ban: Garo was previously my most talented disciple. As a child he was bullied just like you, beaten up, physically abused and verbally abused by other kids. He told me the kids would play this game where they would be the heroes, beating up Garo, the villain. He always saw the heroes winning and the villains losing. He saw monsters dying at the hands of heroes on TV and rejected the status quo he constantly applied to. That's when he decided to become a monster, one that wouldn't be defeated by anyone. Rejecting the ideas of heroes and villains.

Jin: Like... like me.

Ban nodded as he saw many similarities between Jin in his previous disciple Garo. It might have been that very reason Ban had been expecting a lot from Jin. To act more heroic so he didn't run the same path as Garo. To not hurt others. To be at the same level as Garo now even though Jin was still a child. Bans past clouded his vision of a new child in front of him.

Ban: You're not a monster Jin. You may see yourself as such, but I can't see you as that. Garo, he came to my dojo a bit older than you. Searching for strength. At first impression, he was a rude sour kid. But I couldn't help but be impressed at his determination. So I accepted his as a student, as my disciple. I don't just let anyone become a student, only those I let in. Yet, letting him in was my biggest mistake.

Jin: He was your biggest mistake?

Ban looked down as he knew saying that was rude. But it was a fact he couldn't help but say.

Ban: Yes. As I said, he was a prodigy. But unlike you, he was a real monster hidden in human skin. When he got everything he wanted from this dojo, using the Exploding Heart Release Fist I used in my younger and regretful days, he killed every single one of my students. Slaughtering them to further develop his "strength."

Jin: He... he killed them all. Why? Why would he do that when they did nothing wrong?! When he knows what its like to suffer like that!

Jin asked. It made no sense to him that he would hurt other people like that. Not normal people going about their regular lives. Those training with him. If he killed bad people, then that would make some sense. If he hurt heroes that tried to hurt him, that would make sense to Jin. But not to hurt those you trained with.

Ban: I don't know why. But his ideals of being a monster were warped. It's okay to have ideals of being the strongest. Rejecting the idea of being a hero or a villain is ok. But Garo was a wounded man, mentally. From then on, Garo continued to hunt the strong to grow his strength. Killing them. {He grew his strength finding out about the supernatural.} He took other martial arts techniques. {Devoured the supernatural.} He turned into a real monster.

Jin: So is he out there now, still killing people?

Ban shook his head as Garo wasn't still out there. He drew his last life many many years ago.

Ban: He wasn't the only one that started growing fast. I did to. {When I found out about the supernatural and what I had.} I grew stronger and stronger. Garo was a prodigy, but he never perfected a single fighting technique he stole or copied. So when I grew stronger than him, I... I defeated him. Yet he was a prideful person, he wouldn't give up even crippled. Fighting until his last and final breath. He died fighting me. That's the reason I have many scars on my body. It's also the reason... I shouted at you. You remind me a lot of him, and using that style that brought up painful memories. I... I snapped.

Ban hung his head down. He looked at Garo as his failure. Someone he couldn't teach well or raise well enough to stick to the right path. He was strict with him and tough, but still ended up a monster.

Jin: I... I'm sorry.

Ban: There's no need to be. Jin... you are not Garo. You may have come up from similar backgrounds. But you too are completely different people. Garo would say he would help the small, but he was a killer who slaughtered and hurt many for unjust reasons. You... you care for the small because you understand them. Despite the suffering Garo went though, he never understood pain, it was only a fuel to him that ignited his burning desire for strength. Jin, I'm proud of you.

Jin quickly looked at Ban with those similar eyes of awe he used to. Hearing the words he wanted to hear for so long and now he could believe them.

Jin: You... You are?

Ban: I am. Because through your suffering, you actually help the small. You've matured mentally, no longer crying like you used to. You continue to amaze me with how hard you practice and how far you've gotten with the Fist of Flowing Water, Crushed Rock style. I would say you're nearly as good as me despite being so young.

Jin: But... I'm a lot weaker than you.

Ban: That's only because of your physical body. {And the power you can't use yet.} When it comes to technique, you're a one-of-a-kind. You performed the Exploding Heart Release Fist style in what? An hour, maybe a bit more? Something it took Garo much longer to perform after stealing the manual.

Jin: But you don't want me to use the style anymore.

Ban: No no. You can continue using it. It's a good style, it's just that I have bad memories related to it. But with you performing it, I'm sure that can change that. You're an exceptional child Jin, and I'm glad you are my disciple.

Jin looked at Ban as he turned around to not look at him. He couldn't look at him.

Jin: Well... it's not like I needed to hear how proud you are of me. Its just something I wanted to hear. But... But thank you.

Ban: You're still a naive kid though and need to take going home a little more seriously.

Jin: Well now you've ruined it!

Jin stormed off upstairs, but not before Ban saw a small smile on Jins face. Causing Ban to smile himself as he stood up. Looking at the Exploding Heart Release Fist manual.

Ban: {Jins not Garo.}

Ban smiled more as he brought the manual with him. A larger burden lifted off Bans shoulders than Jin could ever have possibly realised.