The Lord Of The Nin9th Fortress

Ryuga takes the book and flips through the pages. He closes and gets out of bed. He is silent as he gets dressed and walks to the window to look outside.

"Tell me Ash, has it been a day since I was unconscious?" He asks him with a blank expression.

"I don't know how you knew that but yes."

Ryuga releases a chuckle but his expression becomes calm again. "I guess I have no choice but to tell you. Can we take this somewhere else, I'm not comfortable talking about it here."

"Sure."

They walk out of the room together and silently walk down to the garden with the fountain. Silence reigned supreme for a moment before they took their seats. Ryuga takes a deep breath before speaking.

"What is it you want to know Ash?"

"You are seriously asking me that?" He asks looking at him intently. " Everyone has noticed you've changed Ryuga. What is it you are keeping from us."

"I see. I wonder where I should start." Ryuga takes a deep breath before continuing. "Ash, I can't change the future."

"I thought that was obvious."

"No. I saw the future, tried to change it, but I couldn't."

Since he used the resemblance, he has been unlocking the abilities within the sword one by one. But there were a few he was unable to deactivate and their effects were continuous. The Visionary, an ability to see a certain future for any possible action a person takes. The Alter, the ability to change everything and all things. Be it the history of the universe, the fate of a person to even reshaping the past, present and future to its absolunity.

But Ryuga 's mind was unable to handle all that power. It heavily weighed on him hence he wasn't even aware of the power he has at his disposal.

"How is that possible, how did you see it?" now Ash couldn't help but get curious. And he was aware that Ryuga was not joking.

"I saw things that I never thought possible. I never realised it, but I seem to be getting more and more attached to Irla. She will die in my place because she and I have mutual feelings towards one another. I am going to fail to protect her and Allura." He takes another deep breath but Ash interrupts him before he continues.

"I think that is a delusion. Princess Irla and you have never even hugged. Let alone share a conversation. And with the slap you have her, good luck dating her."

"I know. Because I keep seeing that future, I am slowly growing fond of her. But I think I should avoid it. In the future I saw, I lost to the horseman and he left with the book."

"Then what did you mean by not being able to change it?"

"I still fell unconscious for a day. Whether I like it or not, I can only change a single thing about what I see, but certain outcomes are just unavoidable."

"What happens with me, with you and Ryukka in the future?" Ash changes the topic with a more direct question.

"I think I die. You will manage to live no matter the outcome of this battle. Ryukka will….." He pauses for a moment.

"What about Ryukka?"

"She will manage to live."

A tear falls down in one eye as he looks down and covers his head with his arms. Ryuga has always lived a nonchalant life. Free from any worries. In his own way he cared for Ryukka, similar to how he cared for his little sister Allura. But through his new ability to see the future, he finally notices and understands how much Ryukka loves him. He finally saw the devastated state she will be in when he won't be by her side. This was the price of a one sided love.

Ash, looking at Ryuga could see he was pained, but he knew Ryuga was never one to open up to anyone. If he saw the future in which he looses everyone he holds dear, in what way is he to be comforted? Ryuga did everything to keep those close to him happy, he is not going to give up anything easy, that is one thing he was sure of.

"I just remembered and noticed something." Ash's voice was calm. "You have always held back in everything you did. But you were always genuine in your actions. If you want to save those around you, you should be broader. If a part of the future is certain to happen, plan for the aftermath. Of course only you can come up with a crazy stunt." his words were almost encouraging. And Ryuga knew it was impossible to change even half of what he saw.

Ryuga wiped away the tear and pushed his hair back. He rested on the backrest and gazed at the sky. "Ryukka will be so devastated, please look out for her."

"Shouldn't you try to live instead of running to your death?"

"I remember it clearly. Exactly seven years ago when I found her on the street. She was badly wounded as if someone was abusing her. When I looked at her it was like looking at myself. She was hopeless as if she had given up all hope of living." Ryuga reminisces about the time he met Ryukka.

"Her eyes were empty just from a glance, one could tell. I healed her and gave her some clothes but she never did a thing, let alone speak a word. Because she wouldn't move I carried her to my dorm room and let her sleep there. Looking back on it, that was the first time I was ever so caring towards anyone who was not Allura." Xicor laughs lightly at the thought. Then continued with a deep breath.

"I looked after her for seven whole days, with her refusing to talk to me, even barely eating sometimes. But few days later when I was reading a history book, she listened to me so intently she even rested her head on my lap. I was so happy." A bright and saddened smile passes Ryuga 's face.

"She spoke to me for the first time then. 'Ryukka Senji', she told me her name. I remember the brightness I saw in her eyes when I patted her head after hearing her name. Since that day I taught her almost everything I knew. Reading, writting, dancing even how to behave in public. Of course the headmaster was displeased when he found out about her. I was forced to have her enroll. Since then she's been like a sister to me." Ryuga sits properly with a calm expression.

"I promised her I will show her what a real family is like. Unlike the Senjis who cast her out calling her defect." His smile becomes more brighter and more relaxed.

"You are right. If I can't change the future. I'll just make flaws that will help me in its design." Ryuga get's up and stretches his arms. "Meaning firstly, I'll go on a date with Princess Irla Reign." He flashes a smile and leaves before Ash could respond to him.

Ash was left perplexed with his mouth gaping by Ryuga 's sudden change. "That was not what I had in mind. But I guess he's back." Feeling there was nothing he could do. He released a long sigh and slumped onto the table.

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