Finding Truth

《6》

Zenitsu, he was a normal kid until he was adopted by a noble man along with another normal boy. The two of them met when they were adopted and found out they both had an affinity with lightning magic and that the noble man that adopted them was called Agatsuma Jigoro. He didn't have any children and his family had been known to have great lightning wielders, so he got them.

He was sure that his life would be hell because he did not want to become a noble. He was put through training, education and manner lessons. One of those lessons on manners was teaching him how to act in front of the high priest.

"AHH!!! WHY THE HELL AM I GETTING DRAGGED TOO!??!" Zenitsu cried as he was being dragged by the foot by his brother.

His brother was called Kaigaku. He was different from him. He was much better at magic and the sword and immediately got the position of commander in the army. He too was given the same education as Zenitsu, like knowing how to act in front of the high priest.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!! IF I'M GETTIN' DRAGGED BY THE OLD MAN, THEN YOU ARE TOO!" He exclaimed, pointing at Michikatsu who held a tied up Shiro. Shiro was crying and begging him to let him go.

"We are here." Michikatsu said as they stopped in front of a large mansion. The large gates opened and Michikatsu entered, followed by the two Agatsumas. The doors were opened magically as Michikatsu led them inside and into the parlor, dropping Shiro on the couch, still tied up. Michikatsu also sat down beside him and magic up some tea and a few snacks.

"I would like to thank you for finding this boy." Michikatsu said, handing the tea to the two boys who gave him a thank you.

"High Priest, may I ask as to who and why this boy is tied?" Kaigaku asked in a polite manner.

Michikatsu stayed silent at first, glancing over to Shiro who was faced down on the velvet couch. "This boy is... a relative of mine."

"What!?" Zenitsu exclaimed. "You're related to the High Priest!? And you didn't even tell me about it!" He pointed at Shiro who looked dead and pale. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF HELL I'D GET FOR NOT GIVING RESPECTS TO THOSE IN A HIGH POSITION THAN ME!? WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION DID YOU-"

Michikatsu only raised a hand and Kaigaku slapped his hand on Zenitsu's mouth. "This child is my nephew. He lost his mother, my cousin, not long ago." He explained and Zenitsu's expression softened. "I went to look for him only to find him gone and their house locked from all around." 'And for the house to have a barrier... Does he...?'

"We are sorry for your loss." Kaigaku bowed down, Zenitsu followed his lead. Kaigaku raised his head and glanced over to the still silent Shiro with suspicion. "But, may I ask as to what a family member of your tree is doing outside the Holy Garden. I've been taught that you all live there unless you are the high priest who constantly needs to go out or the Divine Lands' guardian."

Zenitsu's eyes widen. Kaigaku was right. Even he was taught that knowledge. 'If that's true... how come Shiro is outside the Holy Garden? Children are especially not allowed outside.'

Michikatsu stayed quiet again as he clenched his fist. "His mother... had a lover and had run away with her lover." He said, making the two boys' faces reddened. "Now, I would like to thank you again, Kaigaku, Zenitsu."

"It's alright. I think that we overstayed our welcome." Kaigaku stood up, followed by Zenitsu. "We shall see ourselves out."

With that, the two of them left. Michikatsu immediately let go of the ropes constricting Shiro as he sat up, staring at the ground with empty eyes. "You lied." He said in a plain tone. "You lied. Mother didn't live in the Holy Garden. She didn't mention anything about living there. You lied, Michikatsu."

"...I did not lie." Michikatsu said, not wanting to glance over at Shiro. "Your mother... she really did live in the Holy Gardens before."

Shiro stood up, walking in front of Michikatsu and slapped him across his face. Michikatsu didn't react, he knew that he deserved that. "Mother... is dead. Your supposed power was supposed to help her, so why did she die?" Shiro had no more tears to shed. This time all he felt was anger.

"Shiro... I... your mother was..."

"How about the saintess?" Shiro asked and Michikatsu's eyes widened, finally looking at the boy's eyes. "Were you going to tell me that I had an aunt that was killed. That my mother could probably have a sister that lived in the Holy Gardens and was killed there as well." Shiro looked away from Michikatsu, sitting over at the couch where the Agatsuma brothers were. "Were you not planning to tell my past? Who was my mother? What was her past? And... Who is my father?"

Michikatsu gritted his teeth in anger. He was not someone who usually let himself get taken over such minor emotions, but this was hitting a chord in him. "That is enough, Shiro."

"Are you telling me that you're still going to keep secrets? You and uncle Yoriichi are the only family I have left, why do you keep hiding secrets? My mother... she trusted you..."

"I SAID ENOUGH!" Michikatsu exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table in front, the glass cracking a bit. "That is enough questions for you! Do you think I don't want to tell you everything!? Do you know why I haven't opened my mouth!? If I could, I would've told the truth a long time ago if I knew that I would lose (Y/N) as well!"

"There we go." Shiro rolled his eyes. "Another secret. Who is the other that you lost?"

"Brother? Shiro?" The two of them looked over to the door to see Yoriichi standing there, still in his uniform. Yoriichi immediately made his way to Shiro, sitting beside him and giving him a hug. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your mother's funeral. Or be there when she died..."

Shiro didn't say anything as he told Yoriichi to go sit with his brother in an empty tone. "Tell me, who was it that you lost other than my mother? Who was it that you lost other than the saintess as well? Who was that person that wasn't my mother or the saintess?"

Yoriichi looked over Michikatsu with wide eyes. "B-brother... you didn't tell him yet..?" Yoriichi was lost for words. "(Y/N) said-"

"I KNOW WHAT SHE SAID!" Michikatsu cut him off. "But... I can't..." For a long time, Michikatsu cried in front of his brother. "I just can't! I should've told the truth a long time ago!"

"So, what is it?" Shiro asked. He was too angry to care. He just wanted answers. And if he could get answers here, he won't need to go to the Divine Lands. "What's the truth, uncle? What's the truth that you should've told a long time ago? What could've happened if you were to tell it a long time ago? Who is it that's keeping you from telling the truth?"

"Shiro." Yoriichi spoke. Never in his life has he seen Shiro in such a state. The Shiro that he met was the cheerful boy who always clung to his mother and loved to receive chocos. "You shouldn't be speaking like that."

"Like what?" Shiro scoffed. "Like a person looking for answers? Like a son that's looking for the cause of his mother's death? Like a normal human being that's looking for anything to find happiness in?"

"Shiro. You should know, the truth is something that cannot be taken lightly. The truth will not come out like it's a simple word. The truth will hurt." He said, giving the boy a stern gaze, but Shiro didn't even flinch or care for his words. "Shiro. Stop that. You're not that kind of person."

Shiro raised his brow and he smiled. "Is this the kind of child you remember, uncle!" he said in a cheerful voice. "Because fuck that!" He shouted. "Do you have any idea how painful it was to keep pulling on a fake smile! To tell myself to keep going! To tell myself that I'll find answers! But here we are! Hearing my own uncle tell a lie!"

"Shiro, what are you-"

"My mother! My mother can't remember anything from her past! Yet Michikatsu just comes in and tells those two that she apparently lived in the Holy Garden and ran away with a lover!" She panted for air, feeling hot tears rush out his eyes. "Tell me, who am I exactly..." He cried, his voice cracking. "What am I?"

"You're our nephew-"

"Bullshit." Shiro said, his tone back to the plain one he had. "Uncle Yoriichi, who are the other family members that I should know of. There's already you two, the saintess that's supposedly my aunt. Who else?" Koichi rested his head on the couch, looking at the ceiling.

"Your mother was the saintess."