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Phantom Samsara: Path of Asura
Chapter XII: The Reunion

Chapter XII: The Reunion

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Sanju was following Althair in the next morning, he was thinking of what kind of surprise he have for him--he prayed that this isn't a trick. He went to the garden with him, looking at how beautiful the scenery the area of Althair's mansion is. "Keep moving forward, I'll be waiting here," Althair told him, making him nodded and went to the place where his father is waiting for him. Sanju shrieked when Kinana pulled his coat's tailcoat behind him and made him fell down backwards, realizing that she's still his responsibility. "Sorry Sanjaya," she pouted a bit, making him sighed as he sat up and slowly stand up. "It's okay, I almost forgot that you're here. You want to come with me?"

Kinana nodded, before they took a walk forward. "Now where's that old man?" he muttered while wandering around the trees and the bushes with flowers while looking for him, he was getting bored at the moment and grabbing a stone into tossing it towards the random directions.

"Ouch!"

Sanju lifted his eyebrows when he heard the man's voice when he turn around to face the direction, heading to the small garden waterfall at the West part. There he saw the man rubbing his head by the stone he held, before he turn around to meet with him with surprise and they met face-to-face in person. Sanju's heart clenched when he found out it was his father after all this time, the same features of him and no sign of age from him--that reality hit him when he meet him for the first time.

Radithya Adinata; a tall, lean and muscular fellow with striking scruffy black hair almost similar to mullet, porcelain complexion with slightly brown shades and brown eyes; he's youthful with feminine face. He wears a civilian attires than his Raksha form--his hair went short to his neckline and matching his son's hairstyle, his eyes went back into dark brown. As he kept youthful and shows no sign of age due to his status as the Raksha, he also wears a non-Raksha attire.

Wearing a sleeveless black bodysuit underneath his white collared shirt with white and black batik embroidery of the sun and moon, his elbow-length sleeves revealing his upper arms to his elbows and black knee-length tight pants, knee-length black boots with white-red accents. Wearing his black turtleneck sweater with 'sexy-cuts' on upper sleeves to his elbows, a pair of black slacks tucked into his black boots and wears black and khaki collared coat-with silver rosary on his neck with long black fingerless gloves on his hands.

Radithya couldn't help but surprised after he rubbed his head and hold a stone, the same one Sanju just tossed. "You've grown, Sanjaya."

Sanju approached him when his father said that--in attempt not to shed tears, he wasn't angry because he thought his father has gone from his life but actually still alive. 'What is this feeling...? Why am I crying...? It's been a long time since I've been happier in the past...' Sanju thought, trying not to cry because his father was alive. Senja was right when he said something about Althair giving him the surprise, he came back to him.

Radithya turned around to face Sanju as he gently put down the stone, before he walked forward as he has no hesitance from his young son. For him, it's worth it to return to his family that he'd promised to be there for him. "Father... I didn't know that you'd be here," he said, trying not to cry as he was looking away and trying not to show his happy reaction.

Radithya calmly stared at him as he made his way, staring back at him to notice that there was few strands of his bangs covering his forehead. His cold and somber demeanor now broken by the appearance of his missing father, making him reverting back to his old self.

Radithya was startled when he was crying in front of him, before he held his cheek with his hand. "I'm sorry, I've kept you waiting for me to explain what happened. And yes, I'm alive. I was just recovering from the injuries I got from that day. Althair has saved me from that void and how Maha almost killed me there, I know that I'm twenty-nine now but still--"

Sanju cried once his father touched his cheek after he said that, remembering the time when Maha took his father's life. "I'm sorry for everything," he said, he felt his father's hand on his shoulder. "Don't be sorry, it's not your fault," Radithya said with a soft, comforting smile. Sanju wrapped his arms around him with his head on his chest, he was surprised that he hugged him--until he smiled and hugged him back. "This is the first time we met, hm? I hope you're here too, Ananda."

Sanju sniffed when he heard him said that he didn't care about it, he wanted to see him so badly after his grandparents betrayed him into joining the Elder Council--making Sanju had to endure the betrayal and hatred to his own grandfather and grandmother in life. His only allies were his father and mother's siblings, and cousins and his siblings whom supporting and caring about him and his well-being. "I'm sorry for not been there with you, now that I'm here… I will compensate the lost time we had," Radithya placed his hand on top of his head, before he pull away and wipe away the tears from his eyes.

Radithya watched him trying to wipe his tears away before he sighed at him, he take out the napkin from his jacket and hand it to him. "Wipe those snobs away if you want me to behave," he teased him with a smirk and his son receive that, folding his arms when he's waiting for him to calm down and gave the napkin back to him. "I know what happened to them, I truly condoled over your beloved ones who passed away and it must be hard to let them go."

Sanju nodded when he patted him on the head and ruffling them, not messing it up. Radithya noticed the girl behind Sanju, Kinana seems shy to see Sanju's father for the first time (his son basically babysitting her). "You've been taking good care of her," he noted that made him blinked before Kinana came out with a nervous smile on her face and hiding behind him.

"Father, her name is Kinana... Althair entrusted me to take care of her--and she's an orphan with no one has take care of her," Sanju told him and the latter listened, and he suddenly patted the young girl's head in silence. "Everything has been going on… its getting intense that…"

Radithya listens to everything he experienced when he wasn't here, his eyes widened that Sanju's grandparents betrayed him and the family--making him clenching his fist. He knew the prophecy very well when he learned he had a son, and the nightmare was coming to reality. "I see that Maha was sending something else to the past and caused this outcome… he really had to face us on."

The patriarch facepalmed at everything he explained to him, after he's gone for a long time. "You really have to summarize everything with all of the details I can't remember…" Radithya grumbled, so does his son Sanju grumbled when he remembered what has been going on and some parts are personal, Althair told Haruse to keep them away from them. "Maha is the reason we're like this, I can't process all of the things I've been through," he explained when he folded his arms, looking away from him.

Radithya stopped on his track with his son, turning around to face him when he folded his arms when he speak. "Father, how about you? I heard you're similar like us right?" he tilted his head with lifted eyebrows, asking him rhetorically. "So, what?" Sanju rolled his eyes with a sigh, he sounded so mischievous that he went along with smirking back at him. "So… you are?"

Sanju watched him rolled his eyes with a deep sigh, before looking away from him and look back at him.

"I'm a Raksha, just like you."

Radithya answered with the smile when they were standing in front of the koi fish pond, along the small fountain with jasmine and lotus flowers. "Aruna Raksha; one who commands the sun of the dawn with Yin and Yang, and you're Garuda Raksha; one who commands the sun of the world."

Sanju was wide-eyed, making Kinana grew immersed by how Sanju acted to what Radithya revealed him. "changed into content with a smile, his eyes shows excitement that he heard his friend's name. "Ryoma? I'm aware he's going to look for me after this, and not to mention I haven't practiced pencak silat in a long time…"

Radithya's face went pale when he remembered about the routine during the morning time, his limbs almost clicks that he hasn't practiced for a long time. "I think we should practice pencak silat beforehand, I haven't moved a bit from there…" Sanju was reminded by that as he felt his muscles were going to sore after that, he smiled painfully that he recalled about the training. "Please don't remind me about that… I don't think I will…"

Sanju said with a pale face when he think about it, totally not in the mood for that yet and he sighed before he was about to leave. "Wait a minute, Sanju…" he hold his shoulder when he faced him, somewhat his emotion becoming softened when he frowned at him. "Will you… live and stay by my side, until the end of time?" he was serious when he asked him this, considering the hard times he went through. "Please, live together with me and let me spend some time with you--I don't want you to leave this world without me."

Radithya had a reason to live after his late-wife entrusted him to take care of their son, and must move on despite everything has been through when his son is here-he didn't want to be alone after his ancestors all died while only his mother with remaining of his siblings left. Sanju was emotionally surprised by his request after remembering the past, he never knew that his father has a reason to live. "Father, I'll be with you forever. I will stay by your side and live with you no matter what," he promised that his father could trust him, while Radithya was surprised by his son's promise and relief that he could trust him.

Radithya was glad that his son is finally here with him, he couldn't help but smile and pulled him into an embrace--which he returned and they had the warmth. "I thought I was dreaming when I hear your voice..." Sanju whispered, while he's embracing him. "I've been waiting for this moment, and I'm so glad to see you again. I've been waiting for this day, for a long time."

Radithya couldn't help but shed tears, because he was so glad to see him after a long time--all he needed was his presence and nothing more, but the truth is that he has always been lonely since his wife passed away. "Please don't leave me again, and we'll have a happy life together," Radithya wiped the tears with his thumb, before they had the chance to meet each other.

"I will, Father."

Kinana watched Radithya kneel down in front of her, the fifteen-years old tilted her head in confusion with folded arms, wondering what he going to say. "Kinana, will you live with us together and spend the rest of your life with us?" the young girl's eyes was wide in disbelief, while they were waiting for her answer.

Radithya waited for her to process the information, seeing her being unsure. "Do you want me to make you feel at home, and where you need to be... We're both good people, I'm sure you can trust me," he remarked, hoping she wanted to live with him and his son. After a few minutes, the former head of the Adinata household stood up when Kinana slowly nodded. "Very well. From this day on, we are your family."

Sanju sighed in relief and placed his hand on top of her head, looking down at her. Kinana looked at Sanju with curious and concerned eyes, wondering if he's interested.

Althair was observing both of them who returned, before Radithya patting his shoulder and responded. "How can I repay you?" he asked him, the Flame Raksha hummed--he look back at the Aruna Raksha. "Perhaps you can show me the Core of the Samsara that you retrieved when you were stuck in the void?" he offered, Radithya sighed before he showed the Core that was gleaming in gold and white lights around the orb which surprises him.

Sanju was shocked to see his father has delivered the Core of the Samsara that Althair was looking for, he didn't expect him that he was able to hold that (since it requires an individual to be a Raksha that can hold an artifact of Phantom Samsara). Althair lifted his eyebrows by surprise, before he nodded in approval.

"Welcome to the Silver Slumbering Dragon, Radithya Adinata. Now you're officially one of us."

Ryoma grinned, putting a hand on his hip and look up at his comrade and friend. "I'm glad to see you made it, it's been so long," he said, leaning against the wall where he watch them from afar. Sanju didn't know why, but he felt like his old self when he used to be very kind by nature and has been described by others as having very gentle eyes and a compassionate persona. When did he ever missed that aspect of him before that Phantom Eruption tragedy?

Radithya approached his old friend with a smile after hearing his nostalgic voice and went closer to him, and they hugged each other. "Ryoma, what a pleasant surprise," he spoke when they look into each other's eyes. Raiden saw his father Ryoma was hugging his best friend's father, before he saw Sanju who seemed to... have changed from his cold exterior into kind exterior and just being a kid. Akito and Yukito were surprised to see him because they have not seen him in a long time. Kanae observed them while standing beside Akito, she felt relieved that Sanju's smile returned after his father is there.

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Haruse and Raiden have noticed something have changed within him since his father returned, making Sanju realize his old self have awakened once again--and his father was still alive. Raiden's aloof and quiet nature becoming lively and carefree, his smile returned just by seeing Sanju regained his happiness again. 'Since he returned, he's getting friendly. He seemed he's opening up a bit, and... he seemed he hasn't realized that his father was alive in the first place.

"Sanju!"

Raiden called him, walking with his hands on his pockets. Sanju turned around to face him and noticing he was waving at him, he waved back at him. 'If only one day you opened up your shell and seeing you from your true self, I know it can happen someday,' he thought, standing next to him.

Sanju did not care if he turned to kind and become more friendly as a change of pace, if his heart was warm since the previous day--then the Phantom Beasts can attack him and he probably didn't have a chance to win. However, he wondered if his smile will last long for the eternity until his life ends when he made a promise.

Althair finally able to gain Sanju's trust and his father returned to him, completing their party. He didn't realize his smile at him after he listened to the conversation with him and his father, he couldn't help it.

"Everyone!"

Raiden called the members' attention as he started to approach them, before he folded his arms. "Does this mean our missions are complete?" Yukito asked curiously, making Althair yelled back. "NOT YET! Our missions will become tougher, the three pieces must be gathered and collected!"

"I know that, Althair," the older Kujou twin agreed with a firm nod, folded his arms when he seem to be busy plotting. "All we got is two, so we need the last third piece which it's being transferred. Those items we were bidding are part of the fragment. Since Haruse already holding the Core, he's fine."

Senja has notified that the third fragment was going to be transferred, before Ryoma respond. "Karuna is holding the first fragment, but he was entrusted by Althair, so it's fine." Renata looked back at her friends from the mansion, closing her eyes.

"We have the item for now so we can rest, the heist will be later when the third is done being transported. Now, what should we do for the 'opposing faction' of ours?" she asked with a smile, staring at Althair mostly. "Nirvana Organization that lead by Karuna? Hmph, let him do as he like. Once their new members are in, that organization will be ended up against us."

He gave her a challenging smirk after placing a hand on his hip, looking at her. Senja clicked his tongue, disgusted by their small bickering between them, making her eyes look back at him.

"Hmph, speak of yourself."

"You guys keep flashing your teeth as if you already clean them, have you two brush your teeth yet?" Haruse asked both Althair and Renata, making them look back at him with dumbfounded reaction from them.

Sanju was watching at them who began to do their quarrels, somehow he didn't even care because he would ignore them when he facepalmed--he continued to watch. Radithya approached his son, resting his hand on his shoulder. "Once everything is finished, we can go home. Now that I've returned from the Samsara's Void, I need to rest for a bit."

Radithya spoke to him, making him watch Althair and his team conversing about the future and what could happen on the next mission, everyone was eager. "I guess my depression need some time to subside from me, since that guy Maha just revived from the dead... hm," he was sounding serious because he has some idea on what to do, or going to do with Maha since he has troubled them.

"Sanjaya~!"

Renata suddenly hugged Sanju, making him froze which made Raiden, Akito, Kanae and Yukito grew pale in horror. "What the--" Sanju halted when he went comically horrified when she hugged him tightly with a wide sly smile. His father Radithya grimaced when he raised his eyebrow at the sight when Althair shrugged, before Ryoma was the same when he facepalmed.

"Err, does she really has to flirt with him?"

Renata was starting to hug him from behind and squeezing her massive breasts against his head, making him shocked and squirm uncomfortably.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING--"

Sanju screamed in horror when she forcefully buried his face on her bosoms. Raiden screamed in horror as he tried to pry her away from him, which Akito yelled. "Oh come on, I was SUPPOSED to be in his position--" Yukito smacked him in the head for saying that out loud while Haruse had an irritated tick mark. Kanae immediately covered Kinana's poor innocent eyes.

Raiden hissed. "GET OFF SANJU YOU DESPICABLE WOMAN!!"

Ryoma was horrified when Althair explained.

"Don't blame me, that's the way she expresses when she's comfortable with 'them'."

"He didn't need to know that, stupid. Don't you think his father doesn't want to see his son got flirted?!"

"Please tell me she doesn't have a crush on my son."

The father of Sanju immediately said that, horrified of what Renata was doing to his son. Senja wanted to vomit everything from his system while Karina grimaced--for Haruse... he used his palm to move Renata's face away as Sanju breathe with relief from the hold. "Renata," Althair said as he shook his head, before he look at her with his strict crimson eyes. "Restrain yourself."

Sanju couldn't recover after being forced to rub his head against the gigantic mounds, making him staring in trance and made him turning into prunes. "Hehe, sorry. I can't resist his adorable cheeks and handsome face of his, he looks like his father but in his young adult years," she teased him, making Sanju fainted and the others screamed in terror.

Althair slapped his forehead while he shake his head, Haruse began to carry Sanju into his arms to have him rest and let Radithya handle him. 'Why did I recruit you from the first place?' he thought, Renata look back at him when Ryoma checked on his best friend, who was sweating bullets due to everything that happens to his son.

He never see that side of her before, and somehow she's getting worse. This isn't the first time she had done such a thing, first is Senja (a psychotic ex-assassin who had to handle her urges to perform a dangerous actions and stunts) who fainted and had to go to the hospital while second is Haruse (ineffective, he always brush off her urges which pissed her off). The third is Karina (nope, nothing bad happens) while the fourth is actually Yukito (he's not a playboy unlike Akito but that DOESN'T mean he will give Renata a pass just for being female).

Raiden might be scarred for life by Renata (because he's like a little brother for her, she tends to baby him a lot and hugs him at times) while Kanae almost crushed by her breast when she hugged her (she just pulled away from the beginning), and lastly Akito (he wanted to do that but at the same time terrified to flirt with Renata) which was easily ineffective.

Sanju fainted on the ground with the steam puffing out of his head, imagining her chest popping and making him squeezed between them when everyone was screaming at the end. "Sanju… Sanju…! Hey, wake up, you idiot!" Yukito growled, shaking him to help him snapped out and wake up. "How dare she do that to him, no wonder the first generation is taking cover for a moment?" Karina said in shock as Kanae observed what happened to Sanju, while Senja helped his compatriot to sat up and Raiden was hiding behind Akito.

Radithya carried Sanju in his arms, he didn't want his only son died over of such torture and shock. Renata blinked when he pick him up, she smiled by his concern over his well-being. "Stay away from me and my son if you try to snuggle him, Renata. I warn you," he made it clear to her and told her strictly, don't he dare she has to attempt harming his precious son again. "Of course, Radithya. Although I've got to admit, Sanjaya is the best man I've ever seen," she grinned. "I tried to hug you once… Radithya, but you refuse."

Of course, Radithya always rejected Renata's advances since he doesn't trust a single woman that are not his late-wife, so it was a blessing that Althair knew him and tell his teammates. "I'd rather not letting myself attracted to you, Renata."

Radithya stated with a sigh before he carried his son towards the manor along with Ryoma, since they knew Sanju's life and didn't want him to suffer. "Let's get you inside, I'm not willing to see you to end up like that..." Ryoma said to him, Akito helped him while Kanae's shocked of what happened. Sanju was still fainted with steams on his ears, at least he's still alive and sane though. "Sanjaya! Is he okay?!"

Kinana asked his father with nervous and concerned expression from her when he got down, almost panicking about him. "He's fine, he has gone through from many times. Also, I think you can call me 'father' instead--I'm taking you as my daughter," Radithya corrected her, before he put his hand on her head with a smile. Kinana nodded with a smile, she was happy that she got a new family after all these years.

Sanju was laid down on the bed, slowly regaining his consciousness and his fainted side was fading. "Akito, you said that you want to be hugged too?" Renata teased, however Akito changed his mind--reminded that he knows Sanju for a long time and Kanae was also being hugged as well by her. "If you put it like that… then... no. No thanks."

***

Kirana was watching her father Rayhanda who was talking with the officials, while she was texting with her friends--seeing that Sanju and the rest were doing fine in their time. "For our nation to regain their footing and the economic issues in the past can finally be eliminated--the Phantom Beasts are doing their jobs, despite from destroying property but this city can be repaired with some miracle," one official said when they finished up to discuss the topics and problems around the country with Rayhanda.

"Yo, Kirana!"

Raiden greeted her, he was coming with his friends with him. Sanju has informed her about his father being alive and he'd been helping them too, since his name was a very famous Raksha. "Hey guys!" she greeted the friendly when they greet each other, Sanju nodded as Kinana was smiling and waving to her.

"I heard something's good for me and my team members?"

Radithya, the father of Sanju was there and suddenly approached them and Kirana noticed him with the friendly smirk. "So, these are your friends?" he asked, and Kirana smiled as Sanju introduced him and the party members. "They are, my friends including some newcomers."

"Well, let me introduce myself to them," Radithya said when he take a step forward, introducing himself. "My name is Radithya Adinata, I'm--" he paused, seeing Kirana's father Rayhanda walked back to them. There was a silence among them, that led both of them scowl at each other. Oh God, what's going on now...

"Rayhanda Tjahyadi... it's been a while huh?" Radithya greeted him with an angry grin, while Rayhanda adjusted his gloves--his youthful face doesn't change but his scowl? He clenched his fists. "Radithya..."

"What's going on here?" Sanju asked, while Kirana decided to explain with somewhat nervous bright smile. "You see... my dad actually your father's rival... and that rival became arch nemesis after they broke off," Kirana replied. Raiden facepalmed when the tension between Sanju's father and Kirana's father escalated.

"How dare you bring that stupid issue after years?!" Rayhanda yelled in angered tone, Radithya was enraged when he clicked his tongue. They were challenging each other from both sides. "At least, I won against you from those challenges! You better not trying to capture me just because I returned as a Raksha, I'm invincible!" he teased him and mocking his language. "Hmph, I think I won when we went all-out."

And now they started to curse to each other verbally in Indonesian, only Sanju, Althair, Kirana, Senja, and Karina who was covering Kinana's ears know what does it means. "(How long has it been, huh? You look like you have seen some better days.)"

"(I'll kill you! How dare you to say that! Do you know how difficult this situation I'm in! And I didn't think you have returned!)"

Rayhanda growled, his purple eyes stared down at his eyes and gave him a challenging smirk. "(Don't be careless, Tjahyadi. Because it's our advantage)," Radithya taunted with another smile. "(You have Rakshas on your side, besides you choose to side with the right people)" Kirana's father listens as he glared back at him, the pressure was building up.

"I warned you once, Adinata," Rayhanda bared his teeth, but his daughter Kirana hugged his arm--he immediately stopped and calm himself. "We will meet again in the future, mark my word... Adinata."

"I'll make sure I won't forget about that, Tjahyadi."

They stared and their eye clashed to each other, before Rayhanda stopped and calmed down with ease. "What are you guys talking about again?" Sanju broke the silence, making a suspense while Kinana has a confusion mark on her forehead. "Nothing," both of them glare back at Sanju, but they paused when Sanju glared at the back with his gaze saying 'can both of you behave? We're in Cairo, not in Indonesia you idiots'. "Sorry about that..." Kirana apologized to them, while Senja facepalmed. "That was too tense for us... and it's okay, Kirana.

Rayhanda sighed as he rubbed the back of his head, while Radithya ignored him and scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, we had a bad history with each other that lead to trouble with petty conflicts," Rayhanda said before Radithya nodded, before he smiled back at Kirana. "That's because we were rivals even before you know it, well... back when we were Phantom Raiders. But, I decided to retire because one; I became an Aruna Raksha, and two; the government hated Rakshas so much that Kirana's father here couldn't help but... kind of disappointed because the public hate him after that."

So, they were once rival after all. They were so surprised from that revelation, while Rayhanda adjusted his glasses. "So, why are you here... Althair?" he asked, Althair nodded before he explained. "Mr. Tjahyadi, I want you to give him some leniency... Sanjaya Adinata is innocent, besides I trust him with my core life. Also, I'm able to train him with my power."

"After the Phantom Eruption tragedy? That Sanjaya guy? Are you telling me he has no crimes?" he asked and Althair nodded with affirmation, while Rayhanda glared at him. "Who exactly are you?"

Althair prove him with the flames he formed on his palm, making him wide-eyed until he close his eyes--covering his face and began to contemplating when he began speaking to him. "Think carefully now, Mr. Tjahyadi. Do you really think that the former student of Garuda University, with the rest of his friends... are accused of Phantom Eruption?" he narrowed his eyes and showed him his stern face, pressing him to follow. "No, Althair. He can't be accused of murder since--he was... he was Maha's former subject of experiment, right?"

Sanju went triggered, he was so traumatized because the memory was so fresh in his mind. "Father, don't mind me please. For this time, I'm okay--I feel alright."

Radithya patting his son's head and soothing him, because he was so depressed when he mentioned about Maha and that reminder triggered him mentally and physically. They were worried of him, while Kinana learned about Sanju's current condition. Rayhanda's eyes widened, finding out that Sanju is indeed... the victim of this tragedy--he looked so traumatized and scared by remembering the incident. Althair stared at him, his gaze prompting him to let him off and telling him that Maha was the one who caused this.

Rayhanda glanced at Radithya's son, he approached him as Kirana walked beside him to show what happened to him. "I'm truly sorry to hear that, Mr. Adinata. I didn't know he put you under his tyrannical oppression, until now," he apologized, before he patted his head--and that... surprised Sanju greatly, he twitched with a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Thank you, sir..."

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