'I am not weak enough to lose. Because I am strong enough to admit my weaknesses'
-A sad young man.
He's fallen. A shocking realization burst forward and rattled his mind. 'I am not strong'.
Reno looked to the sky with his back on the ground and his pride buried in the ground. 'What am I doing? Me? Beaten?? It can't be'.
But the evidence was undeniable with just a single blow Damian had shown just how broad the difference in power between them was.
Reno was still in disbelief of what happened. But his broken bones said otherwise. Damian crept closer, was he going to continue his attacks?.
'Reno, how long has it been since we just sat and talked like this...'
'...Roughly ten years'
Reno gradually began to accept his defeat, he bit his lower lip and looked down miserably on himself.
Damian sat on the rubble beside him. 'It's not even going to rain...'
'I always thought you hated the rain?'
'I do...but petrichor relaxes me'
'I'm starting to realize...just how weak I am'.
'Reno. Do you know what we are?'
'Fallen kings who still have a solid resolve. Raise from the dead to fill our final wishes 'Risers''
'So I'm not the only one'
Reno started to look sick, his skin gradually grew pale and little patches of grey appeared in his stunning hair.
'We start to die when we lose our motivation'.
'Damian, I don't think I can defeat the Gaiden'
Damian stood up, he stood in front of Reno and looked down at him. 'Even now, your servants are desperately begging for your victory. To free them'.
'Are you really going to let them down? Let yourself down? What happened to defeating the Gaiden!! Our revenge!!'
Reno looked up at the angered Damian 'Our revenge??' he asked.
'That's right, I am a riser too. So I also have a final wish I made before I died'.
'You can defeat the Gaiden on your own, you're strong enough anyway' he said as the white patches increased.
Damian looked coldly at Reno. 'Maybe you are a mistake' he said as he shrugged and walked away.
He jumped through the hole he made using Reno as a wrecking ball. He glanced at Hade and released her of his control; he already knew what she would do next.
She leapt up in search of Reno, she found him still in his sorry state and rushed to his side. 'Ma-master!!' she called out to him as her eyes began to tear up.
He didn't even answer her at first. 'Don't call me master anymore'.
'True you control over me is fading' she said as she sat beside him.
'But I still want to be your servant' she said with a simile as she turned to him.
'You're free to go' he yelled at her rudely, seeing she had no intention to leave he tried to hit her with his fist, she caught his arm easily.
'I'm weak, I'm not even worthy to be your master' he said as he grew weaker with each passing breath.
Reno was slowly losing consciousness and fainted on her lap. She patted him on the head to comfort him.
Like a mother comforting our child.
'Master, what will we do tomorrow?'
'There is no tomorrow for me I have no reason to live'
'Master, if you died I would be sad' she said now playful fiddling with his hair.
'I'll never understand you, Hade'
'Isn't it obvious, I love you master!' she confessed to him.
Reno cried at hearing Hade's confession.
He made a declaration.
'How many will I continue to let down? This opportunity was given to me by my own efforts. I swore I would get my revenge...'
'Because, for my revenge, nothing is enough!!'
His sick condition began to fade. He abruptly got up from her laps. His confidence regained.
'Hade, I promise you I'll never doubt myself. As long as you shall always be by my side'
Hade's pure smile grew bigger with every word her master said. She brought out his crown which fell during the fight she picked up on the way, she got up and stretched to her master's head and placed his crown on it.
'Hade, I thank you, not for reminding me of my hatred and resent. But for giving me a reason to live!'
Hade blushed and looked away sheepishly, Reno held her chin and turned it to face him.
There was much tension in the air as Hade desperately anticipated what her master would say next.
Their eyes locked and they couldn't take their eyes off each other for a moment.
'Hade, I...-
'Finally, you're back!!' Damian yelled ruining the mood.
Reno changed his attention from Hade to Damian. 'Ah Damian, there you are'.
He left Hade and walked over to Damian. Leaving her to fantasize on what he could have said next, a habit he was fond of.
Reno faced Damian with all seriousness. The two looked at each other intensely, would they continue their battle?'
No
'Damian, I am sorry. I hope that someday you'll be able to forgive me for my attitude earlier, You're one of the last people I'd ever want to offend in this world'. He said as he glanced over at Hade behind him.
'Hehe, how can I stay mad at such a handsome man?'
'However, I also have to apologize for my rudeness earlier as well, although it was too reform your attitude I might have gone a little overboard'
'You'll always be blunt no matter how much you try' He said and they both laughed like reunited friends.
Damian released control of Takeshi, and he came to express how much he missed his old master even in the little time they were apart.
They all laughed at Takeshi's overdramatic display for an apology merrily. There was no trace to be seen on their expressions that they had been in harsh conflict. Or of all the suffering that leads to this beautiful moment. Their motives remain unchanged, but this breath of a reunion they had...
They enjoyed it, at least while it lasted.
Reno looked out the balcony once again and clenches his fist. 'I realize I am not strong....'
'So I ask, Damian please teach me!!'.