"The more proud I was,
The deeper I fell,
I came so far,
Only to weep in defeat.
My heart,
It lies in,
The deeps of war,
I am the wolf maiden,
Lawless and strong.
I am untamed,
A free woman,
None can capture,
My heart and my soul.
You might think I'm a helpless young girl,
I'm better than you know,
Get out of my sight!
I don't care what the others say,
I'm my own leader,
To hell with you."
Ryumiko's voice could be heard in the woods clearly like a nightingale's song in the dark of the night. Hiko worked his pottery as he listened to her singing, engulfed by its fast paced tempo, and her voice that was sweeter than honey. Anger was clearly heard seen when she sang, anger towards Akurou and Akarou his father. The song itself described her desire to take revenge of the both of them, and her resolve to rise as a warrior again with her honor restored.
"Hope comes swiftly,
In the dark of the night,
But, though I've tried hard,
It escaped from me,
Now, I lay here,
Forlorn and lonely,
Why must I stay here,
At the edge of despair?
Why can't I run to the ones I love?
Why can't they live, without losing their lives?
This world is so cruel,
But it has forgotten,
I'll beat all the odds,
I will rise again.
Nothing can stop me,
No one can halt me.
I will fight with
Vengeance in my hand.
Ignorance is bliss,
But, it cannot destroy,
Ones will to live.
You might think I'm a helpless girl,
Defenseless,
But, you're wrong, you fool.
Nothing can stop my vengeance,
But,
I will not kill those fit to live.
I don't care what the others say,
I'm my own leader,
To hell with others."
"Very good, Ryumi-chan" applause came from behind Ryumiko. She turned from behind, and saw her father standing right there. Anger was no longer portrayed in his face, but only joy to see his daughter, alive and healthy.
"Otou-sama!" she cried and went to embrace him. It had been two long years since she'd seen him in his original state, carefree and always smiling. Although in his mid-forties, his hair was still black, without any sign of age. The nihontou he carried was made out of titanium, given by the Shogun from an American tradesman, and forged by the famous Arai Shakku.
"Ryumi-chan, it pleases me to see that you've recovered from your injuries" Reiji said. "I'm sorry for what I did to you the other day"
Ryumiko just smiled. "I bear no grudge against you, Otou-sama" she said, softly, "It's just that I was afraid to go back, ever since that day, I feared that…" Memories passed through her mind of that day when she thought that even her father had abandoned her.
Hiko walked to the father and daughter, and said, "I'll leave the two of you to talk it out", and left on the pretext of getting more Sake so that he could drink heartily with Reiji.
"You did not tell me that he was such a handsome gentleman" Reiji teased his daughter, 'Your mother would have swooned upon setting her eyes on him"
"But she got you, Otou-sama" she replied cheekily. Reiji poked her slender waist, which sent her giggling uncontrollably.
"Now, Ryumi-chan, have you told Hiko-dono about your pregnancy?"
"Otou-sama!" she exclaimed with disgrace. "What will he think of me?" Her fair face turned scarlet with embarrassment. She was afraid that Hiko would not accept her, as she wasn't a virgin already. But, she did hope that her unborn child will have a better father than Akurou.
"If he loves you, he will accept you, Ryumiko" he said tenderly to his daughter. "If he does not, he will never look at you again, and we will find another suitor for you…"
"Otou-sama!" she exclaimed, shaking her head at her father's suggestion. She loved Hiko, and no other. She would rather die than let another touch her.
"Let me be the judge of whether he is fit to be your husband" Reiji said, before taking his leave.
"How about Akurou, Otou-sama?" she asked, "Isn't he enraged of my disappearance?"
"I will take care of him, Ryumi-chan, just go and make dinner. I will talk to Hiko-dono"