8 Chapter 8

"Ginryu, please come here," Chise weakly called out amidst her sobs, motioning for Ginryu to approach her. Ginryu could sense that something was amiss.

"What happened, Grandma?" Ginryu asked, his voice trembling. He liked Chise, his grandmother, dearly, but he couldn't help but suspect that Ryuunosuke was somehow involved in the situation.

"Your grandfather fell ill as soon as he returned home, and the physician couldn't do anything to help him," Chise replied, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face.

The weight of her words hit Ginryu like a tidal wave, leaving him speechless.

Although Ginryu didn't feel as close to Ryuu as he did with Chise, his grandfather had always been a good person who had taken care of him.

The peaceful life that Ginryu had taken for granted was now crumbling before his eyes, and fear gripped his heart.

"Where is Ryuunosuke? Let's carry Grandpa to the bed," Ginryu stammered, his voice filled with both concern and urgency.

Chise fell silent, unsure of how to break the news to her five-year-old grandson that his uncle was responsible for his grandfather's current state.

"Chise," Ryuu's feeble voice called out from the other room. Despite the physicians prognosis that Ryuu would not regain consciousness, he seemed to be stirring.

Hope flickered within Chise as she rushed to his side, signaling for Ginryu to join her.

"I'm here, Ryuu," Chise exclaimed, her voice filled with shock and relief. Ryuu weakly responded with a barely audible murmur.

Ginryu stood beside him, grasping his hand tightly, trying to figure out what he could do to help.

'I don't have any medical knowledge or healing abilities. What should I do?' Ginryu panicked internally, feeling helpless in the face of his grandfather's deteriorating condition.

"Call Ryuunosuke for me. I need to tell him... welcome home," Ryuu whispered, his voice barely audible.

Chise looked at Ginryu, her eyes filled with sorrow and urgency. She had come to realize that time was running out.

"Ginryu, it appears you will have to be the man of the house from now on," Ryuu managed to say, although his attempted chuckle turned into a fit of coughing. Concern etched on her face, Chise urged him to stop talking.

"Hurry to the village chief's house and bring Ryuunosuke back quickly," Chise instructed Ginryu, her voice trembling with a mix of apprehension and desperation.

Without wasting another moment, Ginryu sprinted away, his young legs carrying him as fast as they could.

He paid no mind to showing off his physical prowess; there were hardly any people outside at that time anyway.

Upon his arrival at the village chief's house, Ginryu relayed the urgent message to the chief's wife.

However, it appeared that both the village chief and Ryuunosuke were nowhere to be found. Ginryu waited outside, hoping they would return soon.

Minutes turned into what felt like an eternity as Ginryu anxiously scanned the surroundings for any sign of Ryuunosuke or the village chief.

"Where are they?" Ginryu quietly muttered, feeling a sense of desperation growing within him. He contemplated whether it was better to continue searching or wait for their return. Time was slipping away.

After several more agonizing minutes, Ginryu made the decision to look for them, determined to find his uncle and the village chief. His mind raced with worry and frustration.

"Where could Ryuunosuke, his entourage, and the village chief have gone without informing his wife?" Ginryu lamented aloud as he sprinted through the village, tirelessly searching for any trace of them.

"Gin, Gin!" a voice called out, interrupting his frantic search. It was Hana, who had witnessed him running around in distress.

"Sorry, not now, Hana," Ginryu replied hastily, too consumed by his mission to stop and explain. Despite Hana's concern, he continued his search but was unable to find any sign of Ryuunosuke or the village chief.

"Did they leave the village?" Ginryu wondered aloud as he turned back, rushing home to inform his grandmother of his findings.

Unbeknownst to Ginryu, Ryuunosuke had hurriedly ventured to the nearby city in search of a physician who could offer a cure for his father.

..........

After receiving the village physician's report, Ryuunosuke was determined to find a better solution, as time was of the essence.

The physician had given him a five-day window before things took a turn for the worse.

The nearest city was a two-day journey from the village, and Ryuunosuke was in a desperate rush to reach there.

He had only a small time window to work with, urging him to move quickly. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the village chief decided to accompany him, bringing along his entourage.

Being more familiar with the area than Ryuunosuke, the village chief would serve as a valuable guide through the treacherous route.

Back in the village, Ginryu had returned home with the intention to share his findings with his grandmother. However, as he entered the house, he was met with a heart-wrenching sight.

His grandmother sat silently, staring blankly at the ceiling, while his grandfather, Ryuu, laid lifeless on the ground.

Disbelief washed over Ginryu as a tear slid down his cheek, unsure of what to do or say in such a tragic moment.

Approaching his grandmother, Chise, Ginryu embraced her tightly, providing solace in a time of overwhelming grief.

This display of affection was a stark contrast to his previous indifference towards his parents' death in his past life.

Surprised by the surge of emotions he felt for his adopted-grandmother, he realized that there were dormant feelings within him that he had never acknowledged.

As time passed, night descended upon the village, yet his grandmother remained motionless in the same spot.

Despite his hunger, Ginryu suppressed his urge to ask for food, recognizing the somber circumstances.

Gathering his strength, he left the house to inform the neighbors of his grandfather's passing, feeling utterly helpless.

Soon after, news of the tragedy spread throughout the village, prompting the men to rally together and offer their support.

Ginryu watched as the villagers took care of the necessary arrangements, observing the unfolding events without actively participating.

Amidst the commotion, Hana's mother approached Ginryu with concern evident in her voice, "Ginryu, have you eaten?" His weary and sorrowful expression revealed the answer before he even spoke.

"No," he replied softly, almost inaudibly. Understanding his predicament, Hana's mother offered him refuge and food for the night, suggesting that the other women would take care of his grandmother.

Ginryu simply nodded in agreement, knowing that there was nothing more he could do for Chise at that moment.

The weight of his emotions and the burden of grief remained heavy on his shoulders as he quietly followed Hana's mother, leaving behind the remnants of his shattered past.

..........

Three days later, Ryuunosuke, after giving his utmost effort to rush back to the village, finally arrived with a physician in tow.

However, the moment he stepped foot in the village, he was met with glances of contempt from the villagers.

Unease crept over Ryuunosuke, and he couldn't help but wonder what had transpired during his absence.

"It can't be," Ryuunosuke muttered to himself, his heart pounding with apprehension. Speeding up the cart, he directed it towards his family house, desperate to uncover the truth.

Whispers of gossip reached his ears as he dismounted from his horse and led the physician into the house.

His mother sat still, her gaze fixed on an empty space, her eyes betraying the absence of any emotion.

"Haha Ue," Ryuunosuke called out, his voice filled with both concern and trepidation.

He hesitantly asked, "Where is Chichi Ue?" His mother slowly turned towards him, her eyes hollow and devoid of any flicker of emotion.

A sense of dread settled over Ryuunosuke as he realized the truth - his father had passed away, and he was somehow responsible.

His mother abruptly stood up and launched herself at him, her words piercing through the haze of disbelief.

"You... why did you come back? I wish we never had you. Get out, get out!" Her accusations struck him with a devastating force, the weight of guilt settling heavily upon his shoulders.

The villagers' disdainful glances suddenly made sense to Ryuunosuke - they must have believed him to be the architect of his father's demise.

"It's best you leave," one of the women restraining his mother interjected, her voice filled with both compassion and the need for him to depart.

Realizing that he was no longer welcome in the village, Ryuunosuke felt a profound sense of despair. This event would haunt him for the rest of his days.

That very day, Ryuunosuke silently left the village, vowing never to return. The weight of guilt and the shattered relationships he left behind would be his constant reminders of the tragic events that unfolded.

As he ventured into the unknown, the road stretched ahead, uncertain and unyielding, mirroring the tumultuous path his life had taken.