Ryu's Goodbye

[Darksamurai]

Sitting at a table, within his Mog House, Ryu gathered together a piece of parchment as well as an envelope. He began to write.

To whomever is read this,

If you are reading this, then it means that I, John Ryu, have fallen in battle and am no longer among the living. I write this, so I can say goodbye to those who knew me and to those whom I cared for. I ask of you, to please do not mourn my passing or even attempt to avenge my death. I am now at peace, all of the lives I have taken are now avenged. I have always remained distant and silent, and for that I am sorry. I truly wish I could have gotten to know a few people better and actually have helped out. First, I shall explain my story in a few brief sentence. You see, I've done a lot of terrible stuff in the past, killing a lot of innocent people, and the feeling of remorse and guilt continued to haunt me, so I tried to become a hero or try to find some redemption. I know, most would say whats in the past is in the past, but to me...I can't let go. Too stubborn, but I just wish to say...I'm sorry, goodbye, and please remember me. Remember me as the man who I tried to be...leave out all of the rest. The world is a wicked and cruel place, the people need someone to protect them...but I can no longer fight for my beloved Kingdom or for honor. So as my last wish, I ask that all of you continue on your path and do not fall from it, and enjoy life.

To Tsumi and Anthony:
Forgive me, for what I tried to do, and that I have failed you both as a friend, not being there to help you out in your hour of need. It truly pains me, but I know that in the end, all will be well.

To Zyth:
You did not need me, to me you are a great and honorable Samurai. A hero and protector, and this world needs more like you. I hope you train others on the path of a Samurai, and spread Bushido. Remember why you fight, and who you wish to protect, for they will give you strength.

To Lady Kaliet:
Yes, thats right...I said Lady Kaliet. Though I strongly disagree with your gift with alchemy, I'd still follow you into combat. You might be as mad as me, when it comes to battle...but too bad we could never spar. Would have been a fun fight.

To Koge and Tryn:
I wish I could still be around to help you two out, however thats not to be. I always thought of you two as good people, and wish I could enjoy your guys company one more time...but my time is up. Tryn, find happiness and enjoy life, its too short to just stay in your library. Koge, you crazy bastard...keep everyone in check for me.

To Caith:
Well Corsair, guess I don't get to know this version as well as the other...I wish you the best of luck on your crazy adventures, and lets hope Lady Luck likes you more than myself.

To Sulfig:
Lazy scoundrel. You are skilled with a Great Katana, but you lack focus. However slacker, you need to continue to forge your destiny, and discover your hidden potential. If I was around, I'd track you down, and beat some discipline into you. However Pumpkin Head, no matter what..to me, you weren't that bad of a guy.

To Lady Gemini:
I am very proud of you Gemini. You slowly coming out of your shell, which I am glad you are. Can't stay locked up in some dark library with your head in books forever...but I am happy with your progress, just wish I could have spent more time with you, besides I did want to hear some of the stuff you discovered in those books.

To Crystarella:
I wish you luck in life, I don't remember if I ever thanked you for your company...I shall greatly miss your face and voice.

To Sowilo:
Keep fighting, and never give up. I do not want you to throw your life away, I wish for you to live. To grow old and be happy, do not become like me. Promise me...you won't.

To all of the Chibine:
You know...I'm completely confused and lost when it comes to all of you. And you know, best thing is for me to...not understand. One of you I didn't care for, one wasn't too bad...and wait...how many of them were there?

To Wantz:
What can I say, wish I could be there to see the great Wantz take his position as a new Serpent General. I have faith in you, my friend. Know, that whatever you do, you have a lot friends to help you. Fight with everything, and become stronger...so strong that all of those who try and invade the Empire, tremble in fear of the Great Wantz.

To all the rest:
If you knew me or not, its too late now. There are so many of you, who I wish I got to know and fight beside, however fate has other plans for me. Fight with everything you have, and remember you are never alone, as long as you have this pearl, and that you have friends ready to help, at any moment.

Good bye.

Sincerely,
John Ryu.

[Sulfig]

A whistling Pumpkin head had just arrived at his Mog-House and found his moogle had just recieved a letter. "Lemme see that, not often I get mail! Oooh~ This is exciting.."
Sulfig went over to a small table in the room and picked up a small knife and ripped open the parchment. His eyes skimmed through the small paragraph, and reread it, this time making sure his Pumpkin head was out of the way, just to make sure he was reading this right.
"H-He's dead? God damn, I was expecting good news.. Wow, first time in a long time I've gotten a letter about someone I know dieing.. Kinda sad.." A single small tear appeared from under his hat rolling onto his chin then dropping to the ground. "Bah! He said not to mourn!"

[Darksamurai]

Revised it, made it more personal.

[Chibine]

The sound of several books crash to the floor, echoing in the young girl's library, she'd only recently received the letter from the Samurai, John Ryu. One of her Library Automatons had just returned from her home in Windurst, bringing in several things she needed, one was the letter. Slowly the girl fell to her knees in shock and tears. Whatever the reason was, fate was cruel to the hume child. Just as she had received the letter she'd pulled the technique manuals she wanted to give to the Samurai who was so proud of her. Her tears began to flow and stain the cold floor underneath her fragile frame.

She was crying... he didn't want her to cry though. He didn't want her to mourn him, but for her it was too difficult not to mourn him. While they didn’t know each other long, he had helped her through difficulties. He had always encouraged her and given her strength with his words. He was a mentor to her, he was the strongest person in the world to her, her was a hero to her and… most of all… he was a friend.

“Mister Ryu…” She quietly whispered as she stared at the technique manuals long forgotten by those of the present day. Her eyes blurred by her tears. She wiped her face trying to stem them, but to no avail. She knew she shouldn’t be crying, but couldn’t help doing anything else, but cry. Her hero was gone, she had to stand now knowing that his strength that could’ve carried her is no longer there. She looked up from the floor and saw the image of him in her memories looking down at her his blade fixed in his sheath. She stared up at his powerful form.

Quietly she gathered the technique manuals and stacked them again. She looked up at the phantom image in her mind and wrapped her arms around the manuals. With eyes filled with tears she stood up and walked through the image in her mind. She continued to her desk and set the manuals down as she looked back at the image in her mind, remembering the two of them staring up at the full moon in the Valkurm Dunes.

Still filled with sadness she closed her eyes continuing to remember his strong gaze, remembering his calm voice and most of all remembering him for who he was.

He was proud of her… she couldn’t let his memory down… And she knew… where ever she was, whatever she was doing… he would be smiling at her and… his strength would always be with her, in her heart.

With one last look at his letter she folded it and held it tightly to her as a final tear fell from her stained eyes...



(OOC Note: I did cry while writing this.)

[SamusKnight2K]

[I admit I briefly skimmed your story but I should make comment too.]

Sairan Gammonari...

Sair stared at the letter within her hands, head silently bowed. She didn't know Ryu very well, only that the times Sair did hear of the Samurai he seemed to have bitter resentment towards most people. But still, he was a Child of Altana and a significant influence on the lives of every other person who inhabited the linkshell.

"Rrryu..." She quietly spoke, "I hope you have found eterrrnal rrrest within Altana's warrrm embrrrace... May yourrr memorrry live on within us all forrreverrr..."

Sair pulled the parchment back a little, staring at a particular line...

"So as my last wish, I ask that all of you continue on your path and do not fall from it, and enjoy life."

She lightly wiped a tear from her eye. "I will do that Rrryu, in yourrr honorrr and memorrry."

Slipping the letter into her pouch Sair quietly gathered up the maul and shield sitting besides the bed in the Jeunoan Rent-A-Room and set off to continue her own path.


Mihana Zhralyia...

Mihana skimmed over the letter once, then again, and yet a third time.

"Feh!" She muttered, crumpling the letter up and tossing it on the floor, "Good rrriddance to that pest!"

Mihana was never very fond of that Samurai, he always belittled Mithra and her in particular. All memories of that man were nothing but negative ones. The crumpled letter rolled across the floor, stopping near the bed where Nasani now rested peacefully asleep. Sair's Moogle wasn't anywhere in sight right now, probably off somewhere with that flying blue lizard. Mihana started towards the door pausing mid-step. Glancing back at the letter she gently picked it up and uncrumpled it, trying her best to smoothen it out.

"... ... ... Eh ya werrre a jerrrk and an ass most of the time I knew ya..." She grumbled silently, clutching the letter carefully, "But I suppose you deserrrve a prrrayerrr orrr something..."

Mihana closed her eyes remaining silent for a moment. "Hey Goddess Lady, watch overrr that idiot and let his soul rrrest in peace. Let'em know he'll be missed by all, orrr something like that..." Finishing she opened them again, staring at the ceiling. "Farrrewell Rrryu, perrrhaps in anotherrr lifetime we mighta gotten along..."

[Zyth]

Zyth finally came into view of his former master’s favorite place for meditation, the tower just east of San d’Oria. “It’s been a while.” Zyth’s eyes scanned over the gray bricks. He stepped into the tower turning to look back into the wilderness. The silence was soothing. The shell was quiet. He could finally think clearly.
Zyth sat in the tower, closing his eyes, breathing in the cold night air deeply, but slowly, and meditating on Ryu’s letter. “Ryu would have scowled at me the second I mourned his passing. I suppose his school is completely passed to me, now. Shame no one cares about Bushido enough to truly commit to it. The fools play games with their katanas, call themselves Samurai… dishonor those that soulfully wish to serve. I need students… and I’ll work them. I refuse to tell them Bushido. I will show them.”
Morning came; Zyth stood, placing Ryu’s letter where he sat. Perhaps someone would spread the legend. "I guess I'm the last. Never thought of it this way." Zyth cleared his throat. "I'll keep you alive, Ryu, and I'll keep myself strong."