Cat's in the Cradle
By Sifirela
Note: This was on my jump-drive half written for at least I'd say a year to two years. I started to write it for a thought fic centered around Ryo's thoughts about his father in an effort to get into Ryo's head and his stance on why he's so fiercely protective over his friends. (The title is a nod to Harry Chapin's song and it fits basically, the idea of the song and fic.) This is of course short for a reason and this is a somewhat 'side' story to Until the Fall (Previously Saving Grace). I would really like your feedback and see how you like it. :) Enjoy!
A short story concerning Ryo and his father.
Fathers are said to be the lifeline of a young son; their hero, their rock, and their example of what they will be when they come of age.
My father?
Well, there isn't much I can say about him. My parents were quite young when they had me, and for a while everything was naturally okay: until my mom got sick one day—and never recovered. I was around six or seven when my mother passed, and truthfully that was the very last time I truly saw my father. When I would see my father as I grew into my awkward teenager years, I'd ask him to take me with him; I wanted to take pictures of wild animals as well. I wanted to spend that time with him and almost be like him.
However, I held much resentment against him at first, until it turned into a cold reality of how much I hated him. I still to this day cannot see why he would abandon his only son who needed him more than anything; especially during this time in my life where everything was falling apart. My father knew about the armors, knew about the legends, and knew that it was his duty to tell me.
He didn't though. The rift started to become more severed as I found out I was a Ronin Warrior.
I found out one day while stumbling across a white tiger as a child and a teenager that he led me to my destiny. Kaosu was waiting at the end of that tunnel of my journey to give me my orb that would help me defeat the Lord of the Netherworld. I knew then that my father was a sad, scared man who didn't want to face his remaining family or his past. He had lost everything with my mom's death; it did not lessen the hurt or the anger that steadily built into my heart. As I fought with my fellow comrades, my irrational thinking and my burdened responsibility to be their leader overrode my need to search for compassion for my rogue father who I hadn't seen in two years before that. Oh sure, he would send money; a phone call here and there with a 'How are you?' in a cold distant voice. But, it did nothing to nullify the pang I felt for the past when I could at least see my father once in a while.
It was as if he had died like many had rumored. In my heart; I knew he did. He was a shell of a man bent on finding something in his work, rather than take care of his own personal responsibilities.
I don't know if he will ever change; and sometimes my hope is that he will. But, my father is who he is and I cannot change that. Just like I am me where no one can change me; I strive to make myself better. Maybe, when this is all said and done with – my armor not being needed and the world is at peace – I can find someone to settle down with and have my own children. If my wife, Kami forbid, passes on early, I would make sure to take care of my child and not run away. This is something I valued since I was very young.
Until then, and until the fall of every evil that is bent on world domination or destruction, I will use this value to fuel my desire to protect this world. I stake my life on it; and by doing this, I can see a faint light of hope still to see the day I can clasp my father on the shoulder and tell him, "I forgive you."
