Fukushu now found himself being led by his long dead brother through a field, stunned to be able to see him once more. Fukushu had no words, his eyes wide as he gazed at the teenage kitsune before him.
Raiden now paused, taking a deep breath as he glanced at his surroundings. "I have always loved this place," he sighed, gesturing to the pond and waterfall before him. "It is always so peaceful." The teenage kitsune picking up a stone, which he skimmed across the pond before sitting. Fukushu simply stood before his brother, staring wide eyed before Raiden patted the ground before him.
Fukushu did as instructed, sitting next to his brother. It felt odd for the none tailed kitsune, sitting next to Raiden. The feeling was both familial yet off. The two brothers had done this when Raiden had been alive. Now though, Fukushu dwarfed his supposed "big brother".
"You know I've been watching you little brother," Raiden said as he skipped another stone across the pond. "I'm impressed. You've become a powerful warrior."
"Thank you," Fukushu whispered, glancing over at the smiling teen. "This feels so odd brother. Talking with you like this."
"I understand," Raiden nodded. "You've lived your life. Time moving forward as I have remained the same, well physically. But looking at you, I still see my little brother Jiro."
Raiden now gestured to their reflections. As Fukushu leaned over he could see what is brother saw. Instead of the imposing nine tail kitaune that had terrorized wizards for a century, he saw a small orange one tail. The child he had been when Raiden had lived.
Fukushu's perception now seemed altered as he glanced at himself. Perhaps it was an illusion, perhaps time moved differently in the afterlife. Whatever the case maybe he was now Jiro once more. The younger brother the the teenage Raiden. Fukushu couldn't quite describe it, but sitting with his brother like this just felt right.
Raiden placed a comforting arm around his brother, squeezing him tightly as he smiled warmly. "Things have not been easy for you Jiro," he said softly. "I've watched you grow over the centuries. I've watched how you've pushed yourself ro become stronger."
"To avenge you Raiden," Fukushu stated, the kitsune child's eyes narrowing. "I have used my anger, my hatred, my power to punish all that would hurt our kind."
"It wasnt anger Jiro," Raiden said softly. "It was grief."
Fukushu now glanced upwards at his brother. The silver furred teen gazing at him, like an older brother imparting wisdom. "I understand why though," Raiden said. "As I was dying I saw the look in your eyes. Yes, you were scared, sad even but one thing stuck out. One emotion that has guided you your entire life."
"What," Fukushu asked.
"Remorse," Raiden answered. "Survivors remorse to be exact. You have always blamed yourself for my death. I've listened to you here in the afterlife. How you cursed yourself. How you have deconstructed the event so many times, tried to think of anyway possible that to change. It all ends the same for you little brother. No matter what you blame yourself."
"But it was my fault," Fukushu replied bitterly. "If I hadn't trusted those humans. If I had been stronger. Maybe...maybe you..."
Fukuahu trailed off, sniffing before wiping his eyes. Raiden hugging his brother just a bit tighter. "And thats why you choose the name Fukushu," he said softly. "You wished revenge on humanity but more importantly for you you wished to atone for your mistake."
"Because it was my fault," Fukushu sniffed. "I'm so sorry Raiden. I am, I should have saved you!"
The child that was Fukushu now began to cry softly, cursing his own weakness as his brother patted his head. "Listen Jiro this wasn't your fault," he said quietly. "You were a child, a child that believed in goodness. I always admired that in you. You were an optimist, willing to give all creatures a chance. I should be apologizing to you, you were dealt an unfair hand."
Fukushu balked, staring up at his brother with a befuddled look. "But I'm the one that caused your death," he stammered.
"It was the Fates that determined that brother not you," Raiden replied warmly. "I'm am sorry you had to be a witness to that. Since my passing I have had an opportunity to learn of Fate. How each of us has a purpose that no one can fully understand."
"So you were meant to die," Fukushu asked.
"We're all meant to die little brother," Raiden chuckled. "And while my death may have been premature it was not your fault. I was doing what I was meant to do, protect you. I only wish you hadn't seen it."
Fukushu and Raiden now sat in silence, gazing out at the pond as Raiden squeezed his little brothers shoulder. "I've watched you from afar Jiro," he said. "Your grief forged you into the most fearsome kitsune warrior our people have ever seen, perhaps even more fearsome than father. Yet, I've also seen your pain and your hatred. My death, Isao's injuries, and Yomi's death turned you into a merciless killer. A warrior bent on humanities destruction. Tell me, has your vengeance quest fulfilled you?"
Fukushu paused for a moment before sighing heavily. "No," he whispered bitterly. "No my vengeance has not been satiated. Killing the wizards that attacked Yomi brought me no peace."
"And made things worse," Raiden added, causing Fukushu to frown. "Sorry Jiro, just being honest."
"So what should I do Raiden," Fukushu asked as he shrugged my shoulders. "Take my life to atone for my centuries of revenge."
"I hope not," Raiden stated. "From what I've seen recently you appear to be turning a corner."
"How so?"
"You spared the lives of those two humans that were spying on Sachiko," he said. "And I have seen how you have dealt with the new Catalyst. Despite you history of mistrust towards humans, you are giving the boy a chance."
Raiden now assisted Fukushu to his feet, clapping his hands on his shoulders as he smiled at him. "You have a chance to atone for your mistakes brother," he said. "Fukushu doesn't have to be the name of a merciless killer. Find the good deep within you and help keep this Catalyst safe. It is never too late to change."
Fukushu nodded, the brothers hugging eachother as Fukushu once more found himself a nine tail. "I've always been proud of you Jiro," Raiden said softly. "Now make me proud and forgive humanity."