The Daikenja's Best Friend
"Sumimasen..." he said.
Murata looked over to his friend in confusion.
"For what?" he asked.
"About your son," said the Shinou, "I should have realised the pain you were going through."
Murata sighed. Shinou was as apologetic as Shibuya when it came to the feelings of a close friend.
"I've told you again, and again," said Murata, "This was the Daikenja's choice..."
"Would you say the same if Yuri remembers his life as Julia?" Shinou said then, "I made her take a very painful decision, leaving behind a father and a brother as well as a fiance. If Yuri had her memories, he would definitely feel the heartbreak..."
Murata stiffened.
"There's no need for you to act calm all the time," said the Shinou, "I heard your voice back then, calling for your son and I can still hear it now..."
"SHUT UP!"
Shinou looked at Murata with mild surprise. The outburst was not what he expected, but it was not the last thing he had expected either. Murata was looking at him with anger rather than the usual calm mask he wore. Those four thousand years of pain and death living the number of lives, especially as Geneus of Dai Shimarron, seem to pound him down for the first time...
"HAVE YOU ANY IDEA HOW OFTEN I WISHED TO NOT HAVE THESE MEMORIES?" Murata yelled, "I CHOSE TO DO THIS FOR A BETTER FUTURE! IT WAS MY MISTAKE TO MAKE WHEN I HAD CHILDREN, I CHOSE THIS PATH.
Shinou observed his friend, watching Murata take deep breaths before...
"NO ONE ELSE," Murata continued, his voice echoing throughout the hall, "DON'T SAY YOU BROUGHT ME MY PAIN! I BROUGHT MYSELF THIS PAIN! I CHOSE TO HAVE CHILDREN! I CHOSE TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO BRING PEACE BETWEEN HUMANS AND MAZOKU! I DIDN'T STOP SLAUGHTER! I...
"I'm the one who chose Slaughter to be Maoh," Shinou interrupted, "That was my fault, I'm sorry I inflicted this pain upon you..."
Murata just looked at his friend with distressed dark eyes he hardly let anyone see. The only outburst everyone saw from him was about a day ago; the string of curses he let out upon discovering the Black-Folds who tortured his son and lynched him three millennia ago, and in front of the princess. Murata fell on his hands and knees.
Shinou's features softened as he walked quietly to his friend. He could hear the soft tears and sobs Murata emitted.
He laid a gentle hand on Murata's shoulder.
Murata looked up with tears in his eyes, into Shinou's blue ones.
"Don't be like I was," said Shinou, making Murata remember how the Shinou hid the fact the he was slowly being possessed by the Soushu, "Don't hold everything inside. I do not want you to repeat the mistake I had done in the past."
Murata only nodded and sat there. Shinou sat down in front of him, just being a steady presence as he had tried to be for the past four thousand years. For Murata, Shinou was often stubborn, rather arrogant, troublesome and a prankster, but he was often there when he needed a shoulder to cry on... Shinou was truly... the Daikenja's best friend.
Author's Note: Thought Murata deserves some down time himself. Hope you like.