Makoto hesitated, his words held back by the gravity of Daisuke's revelation. The air in the room felt thick with tension as he searched for an explanation.
"What erm... what do you mean?" His voice faltered, betraying the turmoil within.
Daisuke's eyes burned with a mixture of anger and confusion, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. The steel shimmered in the candle light, a silent threat hanging in the air.
"My mother. You told me she was dead," Daisuke's voice was low, a barely contained growl seeping through his words.
Makoto's expression shifted, caught off guard by Daisuke's sudden accusation. "Who told you--"
"Why?! Why did you lie?!" Daisuke's voice rose with each word, his rage boiling over as he drew his sword.
"Daisuke, listen, calm down. Let me explain," Makoto pleaded, his hands raised in a futile attempt to defuse the situation.
"All this time she was alive. All this time I could have seen her again. It had been so long, I forgot what she looked like," Daisuke's voice wavered with a mix of anger and pain, his emotions raw and unfiltered.
"You saw her?" Makoto's voice softened, a hint of sadness creeping into his tone.
"Yes I did," Daisuke's reply was curt, his gaze unwavering as he locked eyes with Makoto.
Makoto took a step closer, his face etched with remorse. "How? What did she say?"
"I was taken to her. She told me... that you are my father."
The weight of Daisuke's words hung heavily in the air, each syllable echoing in the silence that followed.
"Yes, I... I am, Daisuke," Makoto's admission was barely a whisper, his gaze dropping to the floor.
"And Kotoba?" Daisuke's voice cut through the silence like a blade, demanding answers.
"Kotoba?" Makoto's brow furrowed, confusion flickering across his features.
"He's my brother. Are you his father too?" Daisuke's voice cracked with emotion, his grip further tightening around his sword.
"No, it's not me. After I took you away I didn't see her again," Makoto's words came out in a rush, his gaze pleading for understanding.
"Are you lying to me?" Daisuke's voice was laced with accusation, his eyes boring into Makoto's.
"No, I promise you," Makoto's voice was hoarse with emotion, his hands trembling at his sides.
"Why would you keep this a secret from me?" Daisuke's tone softened, a note of betrayal tainting his words.
"I was ashamed, Daisuke. Yes, I told you the truth that your mother was a mistress. But, I was ashamed to tell you that I was your father because a father should be a role model. What kind of role model has a child with a mistress? I had failed as a father before you were even born," Makoto's voice wavered, his eyes flickering with regret.
"Why would I care? I've grown up not knowing who my father is. Thinking that somewhere in the world is the man that created me and he doesn't even know I exist. Do you know how that felt?" Daisuke's voice bled with emotion, his anger giving way to vulnerability.
"I'm sorry, Daisuke," Makoto's words were barely a whisper.
"You are selfish, Makoto. This is something I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive," Daisuke's voice was heavy with disappointment, his grip loosening around his sword.
"Daisuke, it was many reasons! I promised your mother to make you a great Samurai. In order to do that, I didn't want you having any sort of attachment because that is a weakness which can be exploited. I wanted you to be faultless, a warrior that no one could find a weakness for," Makoto's voice cracked, his eyes pleading for understanding.
"Every boy needs their father... Makoto," Daisuke's voice was tinged with bitterness as his eyes dropped to the ground.
"It was a decision I had to make, in your best interests," Makoto's voice was strained, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.
"It's funny because... I always saw you and Hōkai as father figures yet you were actually my father the whole time," Daisuke's words left awkwardness in the air, heavy with unspoken emotion.
"Daisuke, I'm--" Makoto's voice faltered, his expression filled with regret.
"I need some time, Makoto. I'm still trying to process everything that has happened," Daisuke's voice was now tired, his shoulders slumping with exhaustion.
"Of course. Yes, of course," Makoto's words crawled out his mouth as his eyes also dropped to the floor.
There was a silence which swept through the house.
"I took Kotoba to see her. When we arrived, she had passed away," Daisuke mentioned, breaking the silence.
"Who told you she was alive, Daisuke?" Makoto's tone shifted, concern evident in his voice.
"Raidon."
"Raidon? I guess he's trying to get inside your head."
"It's the opposite. He wants me to leave all the questions I've had behind, to strengthen my spirit before we fight."
"Well... I know Hōkai will take you beyond your limits."
"He's taking me to train at the cave. My training will be done in the other realm, with the Tokihanatsu Beasts."
"I will make sure Sakutarō and Kotoba are progressing well... while you are gone."
Daisuke nodded in acknowledgment, the weight of their conversation still heavy on his shoulders. With a final glance at Makoto, he got up, turned and made his way out of the house, the door closing behind him with a soft click.
Makoto remained standing as he thought about every decision he had made up until this moment. How different would things have been if Daisuke knew Makoto was his father this whole time? Would it have hindered his training? Would his enemies have used this against him?
Makoto had seen how Tōsō and Genji's death impacted Daisuke; despite Daisuke's attempts to seem unmoved. What if Makoto had been killed in order to get a reaction out of Daisuke? How would Daisuke have coped?
As upset as Daisuke was about what he found out, Makoto still believed in his heart that he had made the right decision not to reveal himself to Daisuke as his father growing up.