Back outside, Yakunan was stroking his son's hair, pulling away just slightly to touch foreheads.
Xenudah pushed his father back and stood up, tightening his hands into fists. "Kore wa subete watashi no seidesu! Norowareta pōtaru o akanakereba, koreha okorimasendeshita! Watashi wa monogoto o tadashiku settei suru monodenakereba narimasen!" (All of this is my fault! If I hadn't opened that cursed portal, none of this would have happened! I have to be the one to set things right!)
"Jūbun'na!" Yakunan demanded. "Watashi to onajiyōni, watashi wa sore o okosa se rarenai koto o shitte imasu!" (Enough! You know as well as I that I cannot allow this to happen!) He pulled his son close as his tone fell soft, yet desperate nonetheless. "Watashi wa anata ni sonoyōni nidoto ochiru koto o yurusu koto wa dekimasen... Anata wa watashi no yuiitsu muni no kodomodesu... Anata wa watashi ni totte subete o imi shi, soshite... Watashi wa anata nashide nani o suru ka wakarimasen, Xenudah..." (I cannot afford to let you fall like that a second time... You are my one and only child... You mean everything to me, and...and I don't know what I would do without you, Xenudah...)
"Otōsan, watashi o deteike!" Xenudah shrieked, shoving him back. "Anata wa watashi o sari, modotte konakatta!" (Father, let go of me! You left me and didn't even come back!)
Yakunan let a shuddering sigh escape his lips. "Anata wa watashi ni res shite iru to kanjite iru koto wa shitte imasuga, gomen'nasai, Xenu..." (I know you feel resentful of me for that, but I am so sorry, Xenu...)
Xenudah groaned softly, his eyes tearing up. He curled into a ball, his eyes turned away from his father, allowing sobs to escape him. "Wakarimasen..." His voice was strained and on the verge of snapping like a band stretched too far. (You don't understand...)
"Watashi no musuko... daijōbudesu..." Yakunan whispered, so very softly, stroking his son's hair. "Anata wa amarini mo ōku no koto o keiken shimashita..." (It's okay, my son... Just let it all out... You've been through far too much...)
"Watashi wa... mō sore o toru koto ga dekinai... watashi wa dekinai... dekinai... watashi wa–" Xenudah let out a piercing cry, his body shaking and trembling. (I can't...take it anymore... I can't... I cant... I–)
"Ā, watashi no shin'ainaru kodomo..." Yakunan cooed, his voice so soft and fragile."Totemo mōshiwakearimasen... anata ga totemo itai no wa shitte imasu. Watashi wa anata no soba o hanareru koto wa nakatta hazudesu..." (Oh, my dear child... I'm so, so sorry... I know you are hurting so much, and I just...it hurts me knowing you're suffering this badly...I should have never left your side...)
Xenudah shivered, curling closer to his father, nuzzling against his side like a child. They were separated for too long, so his father didn't have the chance to spend enough time with him.
And it hurt.
Far too much...
"OTŌSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!" Xenudah shrieked, breaking the momentary silence.
"Oh, Xenu..." Yakunan pulled his son closer, stroking fingers through his hair, whispering ever so softly. "Gomen'nasai... Gomen'nasai hayaku soko ni i rarenakatta..." (I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry I couldn't be there sooner for you...)
"Totemo aitakatta..." Xenudah whimpered. (I missed you so much...)
"Dakara watashi wa... Naniyori mo kodomo..." (So did I... More than anything, my child...) The former Overlord pulled away just slightly. "Shikashi, Xenudah, kore wa nidoto okoranai koto o yakusoku shimasu..." (But I promise you, Xenudah, this won't happen again...)
Xenudah drew in a deep breath, then gave a soft smile to his father, laying his head on Yakunan's shoulder for just a moment more.
I won't let you go... Yakunan promised, his heart swelling with emotion. He gazed down at his child, letting a shuddering sigh escape him. His hold tightened instinctively in determination.
Not ever.
The former Overlord shut his eyes for a moment, but not before catching a glimpse of a billowing purple cloud surrounding Ninjago City.
No, not NOW!
Struggling to control his fury was difficult for Yakunan. All he wanted was for Tohakai and the rest of those wretched oni to crumble to pieces at his hand.
That he swore.