With a choking sob, Xenudah landed on the beach. He curled himself up into a tight ball, allowing himself to be overcome with immense emotion.
"Watashi wa sumimasen, chichioya wa... Anata wa tadashikatta... Watashi wa subekide wa arimasen–" (I-I'm sorry, father... You were right... I-I never should've–)
A piercing cry escaped his lips as he reared his head to the sky. "OTŌSAAAAANNNNN! Gomen'nasai! Watashi no moto ni modotte kite!" His sobs strengthened even more as they echoed throughout the forest. "GOMEN'NASAI! GOMEN'NASAI!" (FAAAAAATHEEERRR! I'm sorry! Come back to me! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!)
Silence came into existence as Xenudah curled into a fetal position on the sand. His cries grew stronger as he focused his mind and thoughts on one mentality. Self-reproach.
No one will come for me.
I'm a hopeless failure.
No one cares.
I just wanna leave.
For now my story's ending, no doubt.
I'm nothing.
'I'm done with you.'
Those four simple, yet heartbreaking words pounded in Yakunan's mind like the loudest drum ever created in the entirety of Ninjago.
"Xenudah..." he croaked, his eyes shut to keep the tears at bay. "Naze anata wa... anata mo...? Xenu... Xenu, watashi ni modotte kite kudasai!" (Why would you...you even? Xenu... Xenu, please come back to me!) Yakunan collapsed to his knees, his legs shaky now. His son really did hate him. A choking sob escaped him as he clenched his hands into tight fists, then let go and carded his fingers through his raven black hair.
"I'm so sorry, Yakunan..." Garmadon sighed, placing a hand on his trembling back, gently rubbing it. "He really doesn't care, does he?"
"It's not your fault..." Yakunan muttered, curling in on himself. He blinked tears back as he tried to keep himself from breaking down. "My child is broken...he wants Kymika back." He shot a glance at his granddaughter's bloodstained corpse before secluding himself again.
"Father, why won't you bring her back?" Garmadon asked Hikari impatiently. "You did it to Lloyd, why won't you do the same to Kymika?"
"Why did you wait this long, Hikari?!" Yakunan demanded, glaring daggers at the First Spinjitzu Master.
Hikari relented. Finally. "I will revive her. I never wanted our families' relations to shatter like this..."
"I have to get Xenudah back," Yakunan whispered, just barely audible, but nonetheless practically pleading. "He would be thrilled."
"I'll go." Garmadon conceded, standing up, about to summon his element. "I don't want him to tear you away further."
Yakunan simply nodded. But Lloyd wouldn't let his father go so easily.
"Dad, you promised you would stay beside me!" the energy elemental cried out, tears brimming his eyes as he grabbed his father's arm.
Garmadon sighed, using his other arm to cradle his son's cheek, pressing his forehead against that of his child. "I know, but I cannot let our alliance crumble apart. Ninjago depends on it. I'll be back, son."
Lloyd embraced his father, before watching him take off on his own black and purple dragon.
It would only be a matter of time.
"OTŌSAAAAANNNNN! Gomen'nasai! Watashi no moto ni modotte kite! GOMEN'NASAI! GOMEN'NASAI!" (FAAAAAATHEEERRR! I'm sorry! Come back to me! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!) Xenudah's cries echoed throughout the island, reaching Garmadon's ears.
It's Yakunan he wants.
The destruction elemental flew back at a quick speed towards the Temple of Light. Upon arrival, he dismounted at once.
"Where is my son? Why have you not brought him back?!" Yakunan demanded, trying to keep his fury at bay.
"It's you he wants, not I," Garmadon explained without hesitation.
Yakunan tensed. Did he really just say that? My son actually wants me?
"Alright."
He took off on his own black and magenta dragon without another word.
As he flew, he could hear his son's cries grow increasingly stronger.
He sounds so distressed! "I'm coming, Xenu..." Yakunan murmured under his breath as he followed the source of his son's heartwrenching sobs.
And there his son was, curled up in a fetal position on the beach he had fought Lloyd on all those years ago. Xenudah was writhing in agony, breaking Yakunan's heart further as a wave of emotions crashed into his soul. Guilt, concern, and sorrow were only a few intertwined within the myriad.
Touching down next to Xenudah, Yakunan reached out to still the rising storm of emotions in his child's heart. "Oh, Xenudah... Sore wa daijōbudayo... Watashi wa ima koko ni iru... Watashi wa ima koko ni iru..." (Oh, Xenudah... It's okay... I'm right here... I'm right here...)
"Anata ga ki ni suru yō ni..." Xenudah gritted out. "Watashi wa anata ni ataisuru koto wa arimasen..." (Like you care... I never deserved you...)
"Xenu, onegai!" (Xenudah, please!)
"Gomen'nasai..." Xenudah let out a shaky, agonizing breath. "Chichiyo, yurushite... Nani ga warui no ka wakarimasenga..." (I'm sorry... Forgive me, father... I don't know what is wrong with me...)
"Shin'ainaru-ko yo, sore wa daijōbu ni narudeshou." Yakunan whispered, wrapping his arms tight around his son, rocking him like he was still so much younger."Watashitachi wa ima issho ni imasu, soshite hikari wa anata no musume o anata ni tsuremodoshimasu..." (Dear child, it's going to be alright. We're together now, and Hikari will bring your daughter back to you...)
Xenudah's voice was shaky as his eyes widened in pure shock. "Sore wa hontōdesuka?" (Is that really true?)
Yakunan only nodded, his embrace tightening even more.
A piercing sob of overwhelming relief escaped Xenudah's lips and he reared his head to the sky, allowing his mind to run rampant with emotions once more.
"Xenu...soreha subete umaku ikudeshou." (It's all going to be just fine, Xenu...)
After what felt like hours, the two finally pulled away.
Xenudah waited in anticipation as the two got onto Yakunan's elemental dragon, speeding back to the Temple of Light as fast as the dragon could carry them. Upon their arrival, Hikari performed the resurrection ritual once more.
"What if this doesn't work? What if my daughter doesn't come back? What if–"
"It's going to be okay, Xenu..." Yakunan softly soothed, caressing his back in reassurance. "Your daughter will be okay."
"But what if she's not?! I can't live knowing she's no longer with me! I can't!"
Lloyd gazed helplessly at his father, tears blurring his vision as he watched Yakunan and Xenudah argue.
"Let them work it out, son..." Garmadon sighed, taking his son's hands, pulling him close against his chest.
"Kymika! KYYYMMIIIIKKKAAAAA!" Xenudah let out a piercing shriek as his emotions and sobs began to exponentially increase. His body began to tremble uncontrollably, all the pain and saddening memories replaying once more since her demise.
"Oh, Xenudah..." whispered the former Overlord as he drew his son close, stroking his raven-black hair in light caresses. "You're okay...you're okay... I promise, my son..."
"It hurts! I want her back!" Xenudah continued to wail, his voice much like that of a banshee as he continued to break down in the arms of his father.
Lloyd didn't know how to respond. He couldn't keep his eyes off Xenudah, who truly looked so traumatized.
"I need you, Kymika! I need you!" Xenudah's emotions wouldn't let up for a second. He was too broken from her death to even process the fact that she was starting to wake up now.
Lloyd watched as Kymika's eyes fluttered open and she began to cough and convulse to get air back into her system.
"Kymi..." Xenudah's cries fell into a soft, shuddering whisper as he carefully wrapped his arms around her. "It's been...s-so long... I-I've missed you so m-much..."
"Me too, dad..." Kymika whimpered, nuzzling against her father's chest. "I don't wanna leave you..."
"Nor I you... I-I just...can't believe you're finally here with me once more..." Xenudah practically sobbed as he buried his face into his daughter's black hair, stroking it lightly in consolation. "It's too surreal... Kymika Ishire Akurai...my beautiful little girl...I don't ever want to leave you again... Please, my child...don't ever leave my side again... It hurt too much... I just–" He couldn't hold his emotions back anymore as he began to wail, his cries growing louder as seconds passed.
"Dad, it's okay..." Kymika whispered, tightening her hold on her father. "I'm just so glad I'm finally back... I love you so much..."
"So do I, Kymi...so do I..."
